Friday, April 09, 2004
Manatees in Jeopardy
We were researching a story for todays edition when a feed came through from Denlines. This is an issue for those of us who live in Florida, it's true, but beyond that it surely impacts any of you who have lived near or heard of these gentle giants of the sea. We urge you to write to the folks listed below and voice your dismay at the potential for suffering and loss that this legislation portends and send a clear testament in support of the Manatee.
Finally, if I may, a personal note: To our many friends and readers in Australia and Queensland, a special plea to you to engage the process, voice your concern: one ocean, one world.
On Monday afternoon, April 12th, the Florida Senate Natural
Resources Committee will vote on anti-manatee legislation
(SB 540). SB 540 deals a crushing blow to manatees by severely
weakening the Manatee Sanctuary Act. The bill says that if a
regional population has met disputed "biological goals", any
"excess" manatees could then be killed or injured by boats.
The bill could virtually halt work on manatee protection plans
and is in conflict with the federal Endangered Species Act and
the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In addition, essential funds
would be diverted from important management and recovery
research to studies that are ill-conceived and unnecessary.
Every year, Defenders of Wildlife's Florida office, as part of
the Manatee Coalition, has to fight back bad manatee legislation
despite the fact that special interests say they will cease
these legislative attacks. Once again, we need to voice our
support for strong manatee protection. Please call or email
by noon Monday to tell the Senate Natural Resources Committee
members to vote NO on SB 540.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Please go to the DEN Action Center at: http://www.denaction.org
to contact your state Senator and Governor Jeb Bush and tell
them to urge the members of the Natural Resources Committee to
"VOTE NO ON SB 540". You can also telephone the state
Senate Natural Resources Committee members (see contact
information below).
The vote will occur on MONDAY, APRIL 12, so please send your
message TODAY. Be sure to say "VOTE NO ON SB 540" in the
subject line or phone call. Thanks for helping to protect
the unique manatee, our state's official marine mammal.
Sincerely,
Laurie Macdonald
Director, Defenders of Wildlife's Florida Office
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR STATE SENATORS:
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Chair: Senator Alfred Lawson, Jr.
E-mail: lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5004
Vice Chair: Senator Paula Dockery
E-mail: dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5040
Senator Nancy Argenziano
E-mail: argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5017
Senator Jeffrey H. Atwater
E-mail: atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5100
Senator Lee Constantine
E-mail: constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5050
Senator Anna P. Cowin
E-mail: cowin.anna.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5014
Senator Gary Siplin
E-mail: siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5190
Governor Jeb Bush
E-mail: jeb.bush@myflorida.com
Phone: 850-488-4441
Fax: 850-487-0801
Thank you to Save the Manatee Club for information used in
writing this alert.
Finally, if I may, a personal note: To our many friends and readers in Australia and Queensland, a special plea to you to engage the process, voice your concern: one ocean, one world.
On Monday afternoon, April 12th, the Florida Senate Natural
Resources Committee will vote on anti-manatee legislation
(SB 540). SB 540 deals a crushing blow to manatees by severely
weakening the Manatee Sanctuary Act. The bill says that if a
regional population has met disputed "biological goals", any
"excess" manatees could then be killed or injured by boats.
The bill could virtually halt work on manatee protection plans
and is in conflict with the federal Endangered Species Act and
the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In addition, essential funds
would be diverted from important management and recovery
research to studies that are ill-conceived and unnecessary.
Every year, Defenders of Wildlife's Florida office, as part of
the Manatee Coalition, has to fight back bad manatee legislation
despite the fact that special interests say they will cease
these legislative attacks. Once again, we need to voice our
support for strong manatee protection. Please call or email
by noon Monday to tell the Senate Natural Resources Committee
members to vote NO on SB 540.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Please go to the DEN Action Center at: http://www.denaction.org
to contact your state Senator and Governor Jeb Bush and tell
them to urge the members of the Natural Resources Committee to
"VOTE NO ON SB 540". You can also telephone the state
Senate Natural Resources Committee members (see contact
information below).
The vote will occur on MONDAY, APRIL 12, so please send your
message TODAY. Be sure to say "VOTE NO ON SB 540" in the
subject line or phone call. Thanks for helping to protect
the unique manatee, our state's official marine mammal.
Sincerely,
Laurie Macdonald
Director, Defenders of Wildlife's Florida Office
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR STATE SENATORS:
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Chair: Senator Alfred Lawson, Jr.
E-mail: lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5004
Vice Chair: Senator Paula Dockery
E-mail: dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5040
Senator Nancy Argenziano
E-mail: argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5017
Senator Jeffrey H. Atwater
E-mail: atwater.jeff.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5100
Senator Lee Constantine
E-mail: constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5050
Senator Anna P. Cowin
E-mail: cowin.anna.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5014
Senator Gary Siplin
E-mail: siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov
Phone: 850-487-5190
Governor Jeb Bush
E-mail: jeb.bush@myflorida.com
Phone: 850-488-4441
Fax: 850-487-0801
Thank you to Save the Manatee Club for information used in
writing this alert.
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