Support Florida Sportfish

Mosquito Lagoon Marine Enhancement Center Awarded ECHO Grant

March 10, 2010

The Volusia County ECHO Board approved a $600,000 grant that will enable work to begin on the hatchery property. Along with $130,000 in match from the City of New Smyrna Beach, $10,000 from the Artist's Workshop and $10,000 from the Marine Discovery Center, the Wildlife Foundation of Florida provided $150,000 for demolition of substandard structures and the restoration of one building for use as an education and outreach center.

The Artist's Workshop and Marine Discovery Center will provide the education and outreach to over 25,000 children and visitors on the site through innovative programs designed to directly engage visitors in the marine environment.  A classroom and wet lab on site will enable Volusia schools to provide hands on marine science and educational programs.  In addition, an additional wet lab will be available for use by marine researchers in the area.

The master plan for the site is under development, but an early draft rendition shows the a possible future site with new facilities and extensive public access.

Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute Plans New Hatchery on IRL

March 2, 2010

Last Thursday a planning meeting was held to discuss the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute's (HSWRI) proposed hatchery and research facility on Indian River Lagoon.  The meeting included staff from notable elected officials, state and local government representatives, partners from FIT, CCA, FWC and FWS.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the long-term strategy for the Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative at IRL and the Atlantic Coast.  

The day began with a site visit to HSWRI's new Coconut Point research facility and a visit to FIT's Hog Point research facility.  The participants traveled south to the visit HSWRI's property across the street from the Barrier Island Management and Education Center, where the meeting was held.  

The group received presentations from the engineering firm HDR on possible design configurations that would work for the property. 

The key issue addressed involved the narrowness of the three HSWRI sites on the IRL and the intervening/adjacent FWS properties.  Like piano keys, the sites are fragmented into long, narrow strips.  FWS has properties between the three HSWRI properties that the Service in interested in restoring.  The group agreed to explore the feasibility of a land swap between HSWRI and FWS that would provide for a contiguous shoreline restoration area for FWS and an upland parcel for the joint HSWRI/FWC research facilities with hatchery.  The group agreed that the land swap could provide a win-win outcome, with the FWS receiving valuable contiguous shoreline wetlands, and HSWRI receiving a wider upland footprint.

Next steps involve surveying the property to establish boundaries, value and any other issues necessary for the proposed swap and then determining the feasibility of swapping the parcels.

As designed, the HSWRI Hatchery would be the largest in N. America.

US House economic stimulus plan includes $400 million for hatcheries.

H.R.629 -- Energy and Commerce Recovery and Reinvestment Act was introduced in US House of Representatives and S.1 -- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was placed on the calendar in the US Senate.

The House Bill targets $825 billion in stimulus over the next 2 years, with $550 billion in stimulus spending and $275 billion in proposed tax cuts and tax-related measures.  Mid-February has been set as the target date for getting the the final stimulus plan approved.

The current House proposal has $400 million dollars allocated for ready-to-go habitat and fisheries restoration, marine debris and mitigation projects.  There are additional funding categories for habitat restoration, green job creation, infrastructure development and repair, and others that could prove to be potential sources of funding for the Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative.

Continued support from Florida's Congressional Delegation and from Governor Crist will be key to obtaining funding from the economic stimulus package for recreational marine hatchery creation in Florida and restoration of critical marine fish habitat.

To get the full text of both bills, go to the Congressional legislation search site: http://thomas.loc.gov

Hatcheries in Florida? This Editorial Cartoon Sums it Up!

My friends at the New Smyrna Beach Observer produced this editorial cartoon.  Editor Robert Burns and in-house artist Linda Evelyn created the perfect summary of the importance of the upcoming federal economic stimulus package to creation of Marine Enhancement Centers (hatchery and habitat centers) around Florida.  You know, a picture is worth ....

Visit the NSB Observer online site for the updated article an ongoing coverage.

http://www.nsb-observer.com/

And please ... Contact your Congressional and State Representatives and ask for their support in creating a sustainable saltwater recreational fishery for Florida, plus the the green job creation and economic stimulus that this project will deliver.

 

Copyright NSB Observer 2009.  All rights reserved.

Used with permission.

Florida Marine Hatcheries may be part of the Obama Stimulus Package

January 4, 2009

The Florida Marine Fisheries Enhancement Initiative Partners have submitted a comprehensive hatchery proposal to be considered as part of the upcoming federal economic stimulus package.  The package is being submitted to Governor Crist's office and to Florida's congressional delegation.

The stimulus package would construct 7 recreational marine hatcheries on the East and West Coasts, creating 3,129 immediate jobs and 169 permanent green jobs for Florida at a cost of $138 million.  An additional $10 million has been requested for critical fish habitat restoration for the Indian River Lagoon and Tampa Bay; an investment creating an additional 350 immediate green jobs for local communities.

State-wide angler and boater support has been strong and growing for the Initiative.