Thought this might be of interest to the group.  These are the guys that are
worried about the reefs and want divers to pay for protecting them.  They've
already spent millions of taxpayer money to get the point where they know
there's a problem (but not quite what the problem is), that they want to do
something about the problem (but have no idea what) and that they want a lot
more taxpayer and private money to study both some more.  In the process,
they discovered that divers don't have to pay license fees to the state and,
because we're obviously (to them) a part of the problem, we should pay them
to continue to do nothing constructive.

Some of us don't agree and said so, clearly and in public.  Of course, I'm
not biased at all.

Lee

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Good afternoon,

You are receiving this email because you have previously expressed
interested in, or attended a meeting of, the Southeast Florida Coral Reef
Initiative (SEFCRI).

In 2003, with guidance from the United States Coral Reef Task Force
(USCRTF), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission coordinated the formation of an
interagency team of marine resource professionals (federal, state, regional,
and local) who are familiar with the southeast Florida coral reefs north of
the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS).   This team, named the
Southeast Florida Action Strategy Team (SEFAST), first gathered to develop
local action strategies in May 2003 targeting coral reefs from the southern
Miami-Dade County line to Hobe Sound (Martin County). This region was chosen
because the coral ecosystems are close to shore and co-exist with intensely
urbanized areas that lack a coordinated development plan (like that of the
FKNMS). In February 2004, SEFAST completed a working draft SEFCRI Local
Action Strategy (LAS) of issue statements, goals, objectives and projects
for, stemming from a facilitated process incorporating public review and
comment. Refinements of the strategies from the February 2004 draft LAS and
identification of priority projects are now beginning.

To maximize its potential and success, the Southeast Florida Coral Reef
Initiative will require support from the larger southeast Florida community.
Your continued interest and participation in the refinement and
implementation of the SEFCRI LAS is valued and appreciated. Beginning the
week of July 12, 2004, future SEFCRI meeting schedules, locations and
related documents will be posted on the Florida Department of Environmental
Protections Coral Reef website at
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/.

Several small planning meetings targeting the 4 SEFCRI focus/issue areas
(Appreciation & Awareness, Land-based Sources of Pollution, Maritime
Industry & Coastal Construction Impacts, Fishing Diving & Other Uses) are
scheduled for SEFAST and Issue Team members beginning later this month.
Minutes will be recorded and posted to the website following the meetings. A
larger meeting to request wider community stakeholder review and comment
will be scheduled in late 2004/early 2005. Please check the website
regularly for updates.

====================================

Chantal Collier

Coral Reef Program Manager

FDEP/Office of Coastal & Aquatic Managed Areas

Biscayne Bay Environmental Center

1275A NE 79th Street Cswy.

Miami, FL 33138

Phone: 305-795-1208

Fax: 305-795-3470

Email: Chantal.Collier@dep.state.fl.us

====================================