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Florida Governor Charlie Crist recently
signed a proclamation honoring Saturday, Aug. 9 as National Marina
Day. To celebrate the day, designated Clean Marinas with the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are hosting
special events across the state to highlight the importance of
protecting Florida’s waterways at their
environmentally-friendly marine facilities.
“With more than 2,000 facilities and
a $14 billion marine industry, Florida’s marinas are an
integral part of protecting Florida’s environment,”
said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. “By celebrating National
Marina Day and adopting eco-friendly practices year-round, Clean
Marinas help to raise awareness of the importance of preserving
Florida’s waterways.”
Since 2001, the second Saturday in August
has been recognized as National Marina Day by the National Marine
Manufacturers Association and the Association of Marine Industries.
With the primary mission being public education, National Marina
Day emphasizes the importance of the marine industry as a
family-friendly gateway to our rivers, lakes and oceans, and
highlights the importance of being a steward of the environment.
Recognizing the importance of waterways, designated Clean Marinas
in St. Petersburg, Miami, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Hollywood and
Amelia Island are providing clean boating outreach and information
along with events and activities.
“National Marina Day is an excellent
time to recognize the hard work of Florida’s Clean Marinas in
protecting the environment,” said Clean Boating Partnership
Chair John Naybor of Pensacola. “Members of DEP’s Clean
Marina Program stand out as environmental leaders.”
Florida Clean Marinas offering “go
green” boating information and events on Saturday
include:
Amelia Island Yacht Basin - 251 Creekside
Drive, Amelia Island
The marina will host the Trey Durrance
Leukemia Benefit and Bike Run, the Amelia Island Sailing Club Poker
Run and a BBQ featuring live entertainment from noon to 6 p.m.
Yacht brokers, service representatives and vendors will be
represented, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Nassau County
Sheriff’s Department.
City of Hollywood Marina - 700 Polk
Street, Hollywood
The marina will host a Cardboard Boat Race
with entertainment, hotdogs and beverages. The event begins at noon
with races starting at 1 p.m.
City of Miami – Miamarina at Bayside
- 401 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
The city of Miami will host the 2nd Annual
Miami Fishing Tournament to commemorate National Marina Day.
Fish Tale Marina - 7225 Estero Blvd, Fort
Myers
The marina will host a picnic on the deck
for customers beginning at noon. The facility will also host kayak
demo rides from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fishermen’s Village Yacht Basin -
1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda
The marina will host National Marina Day
festivities from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Live music will be offered
from 5-9 p.m. This year’s theme is Environmental Stewardship
of Charlotte Harbor.
The Harborage Marina at Bayboro –
Wet Slip Marina – 1110 3rd Street South, St. Petersburg
The marina will provide music, food and
fun from noon to 4 p.m. Other agencies such as the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission also will provide educational materials to
the public.
In conjunction with DEP, the Clean Boating
Partnership developed Florida’s Clean Marina, Clean Boatyard,
Clean Marine Retailer and Clean Boater Programs in 1996 to protect
Florida’s waterways. The Florida Clean Marina Program
designated its first member in 2000 and now has 170 Clean Marinas,
29 Clean Boatyards and four Clean Marine Retailers.
The Clean Boating Partnership is a
consortium of industry leaders who contribute time and input to the
Clean Marina, Clean Boatyard, Clean Marine Retailer and Clean
Boater programs, which DEP’s Office of Sustainable
Initiatives administers, to protect Florida’s waterways. The
partnership includes DEP, Marine Industries Association of Florida,
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, University of
Florida Sea Grant Program, United States Coast Guard and Coast
Guard Auxiliary. Through sponsored workshops, technical assistance,
conferences and dedication ceremonies, the partnership educates the
boating community about pollution prevention and protecting
Florida’s waterways.
DEP’s Office of Sustainable
Initiatives is comprised of three voluntary, non-regulatory
programs that assist Florida industry and citizens in protecting
the environment. The Clean Marina Program, the Florida Green
Lodging Program and the Florida Pollution Prevention Program offer
a variety of services including on-site assessments, consultations,
speakers and workshops, all at no cost to citizens or
organizations. The goal of the Sustainable Initiatives programs is
to meet the needs of the present population without compromising
resources for future generations. To learn more about DEP’s
Sustainable Initiatives, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/green/.
For more information on National Marina
Day events, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina/marina_day.htm.
For more information on DEP’s Clean Marina Program, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina/default.htm . To view the
Governor’s proclamation, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina/files/marinadayproclamation_2008.pdf.
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