Marine Resources Council Of East Florida Inc

THE PURPOSE OF THE MARINE RESOURCES COUNCIL (MRC) IS TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF MARINE SYSTEMS FOR THE ECONOMIC, RECREATIONAL, AESTHETIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL USE OF THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPS AND COORDINATES LONG- TERM PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS AS WELL AS YOU AND FORMAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF ESTUARINE ECOLOGY, RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT LAGOON THREATS, AND CHANGE BEHAVIOR THROUGH SOCIAL MARKETING. ONE SUCH PROGRAM IS "BE FLORIDIAN NOW," AN EFFORT TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT NEWLY PASSED RESIDENTIAL FERTILIZER ORDINANCES AND ENCOURAGE LAGOON- FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING PRACTICES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONDUCTS WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC EVENTS TO REACH CONSENSUS AND ENGAGE NEW SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION IN LAGOON PROTECTION. LAGOON FEST IS A LARGE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND FESTIVAL THAT CAPTURES DIVERSE INTEREST WITH MUSIC FOOD, AND THEN EDUCATES THE PUBLIC THROUGH INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS AND SPEAKERS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOLDS A SUMMER CAMP FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GAIN "BRIGHT FUTURES" VOLUNTEER HOURS WHILE ASSISTING WITH SCIENTIFIC DATA COLLECTION AND LEARNING ABOUT THE LAGOON ECOSYSTEM.

LAND MANAGEMENT: THE ORGANIZATION CONTRACTS WITH THIRD PARTIES, PRIMARILY LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES, TO PERFORM SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROJECTS. THROUGH THESE PROJECTS, THE ORGANIZATION CONTRIBUTES TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM WHICH ARE ABLE TO FILTER AIR AND WATER, AND PROVIDE HABITAT FOR NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS. THESE CONTRACTS OFTEN ALSO INCLUDE EDUCATION, MONITORING, MEASUREMENT, AND REPORTING COMPONENTS. THESE CONTACT PROJECTS TYPICALLY INCLUDE TASKS SUCH AS CLEARING OF INVASIVE SPECIES, MUCK REMOVAL, SHORELINE CLEANUP AND PLANTING, SEA GRASS AND MANGROVE PLACEMENT, SHELLFISH PLACEMENT AND LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE. SCIENCE: THE ORGANIZATION PERFORMS MONITORING OF MARINE WILDLIFE AND MEASURE WATER QUALITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSESSING PROBLEM AREAS AND DEVELOPING ACTION PLANS FOR REHABILITATION. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SPONSORS A REPORTING PROGRAM FOR SIGHTING OF THE ENDANGERED NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION IS ABLE TO NOTIFY LOCAL SHIP TRAFFIC SUCH THAT SHIP STRIKES CAN BE AVOIDED. THE ORGANIZATION HAS COLLABORATED WITH SCIENTIST, ENGINEERS, EDUCATORS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS FROM LOCAL UNIVERSITIES ON TOPICS SUCH AS OCEAN ENGINEERING, AT-SEA OPERATIONS, DRUG RESEARCH, COASTAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION, MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION, ECOSYSTEM MODELING, AQUACULTURE, OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEMS AND MARINE EDUCATION.