August 12, 2005
State Appoints 15 To Florida Oceans And Coastal Council
The State of Florida today announced appointments to the Florida Oceans and Coastal Council. Established by House Bill 1855 in the last legislative session, the Council will develop priorities for ocean and coastal research and establish a statewide ocean research plan. The group will also coordinate public and private ocean research for more effective coastal management.
Co-chaired by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Colleen Castille and Executive Director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Ken Haddad, the council is made up of 15 voting members and three non-voting members. Castille, Haddad, and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson each appoint five members to the Council. Castille, Haddad and Bronson are the non-voting members.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection appointees:
-- Dr. Karl Havens, Chair of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida.
-- Dr. Thomas D. Waite, Dean of the College of Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology.
-- Dr. John C. Ogden, Director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography and Professor of Biology, University of South Florida.
-- Dr. Thomas N. Lee, Research Professor of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami.
-- Dr. Lisa Robbins, Chief Scientist, United States Geological Survey Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies.
Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission appointees:
-- Billy Causey, Superintendent, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
-- Dr. James Cato, Director, Florida Sea Grant.
-- Dr. Shirley Pomponi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution.
-- Dr. Jerome Lorenz, Research Director, National Audubon Society's Tavernier Science Center.
-- Dr. R. Grant Gilmore, Senior Aquatic Scientist, Dynamac Corporation.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services appointees:
-- Jane Davis, Aquarium Director, The Living Seas at Walt Disney World's Epcot.
-- Dr. Ernest Estevez, Director, Mote Marine Laboratory's Center for Coastal Ecology.
-- Rob Kramer, President, International Game Fish Association.
-- Jerry Sansom, Executive Director, Organized Fishermen of Florida.
-- Jody Thomas, Director, The Nature Conservatory's South Florida Region.
For more information:
Sarah Williams
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(850) 245-2112
Willie Puz
Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission
(561) 625-5122
Terence McElroy
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(850) 488-3022
mcelrot@doacs.state.fl.us
