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RESOLUTION NO. R-93-13
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, INDIAN RIVER
COUNTY, FLORIDA; REQUESTING THAT DOLPHINS BE DECLARED A
NATIONAL TREASURE AND PROVIDED PROTECTION FROM CAPTURE;
PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF RESOLUTIONS OR PARTS OF
RESOLUTIONS IN CONFLICT HEREWITH AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, dolphins have a high mortality rate in captivity;
WHEREAS, nearly half of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in
the world's aquariums are captured from Florida waters; and
WHEREAS, seventy-five (75) bottlenose dolphins have been
captured from the Indian River Lagoon since 1972, the year of
passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act; and
WHEREAS, current population estimates place the entire
Indian River Lagoon dolphin population at only two to three
hundred dolphins; and
WHEREAS, the National Marine Fisheries Service does not
verify compliance of foreign facilities who claim to meet the
standards of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Animal
Welfare Act; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that half of the Atlantic
bottlenose dolphin population died during the epidemic between
1987 and 1989; and
WHEREAS, the City Council realizes that dolphins may migrate
outside the jurisdictional waters of Sebastian; and
WHEREAS, the city Council expresses its desire that
dolphins be protected from capture and exploitation for the
enjoyment of future generations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council for the
City of Sebastian, Indian River County, Florida, as follows:
SECTION 1. The city council requests of all government
officials and representatives, as well as regulatory agencies and
commissions, that dolphins be declared a national treasure and
removal from their natural environment be forbidden.
SECTION 2. The Marine Mammal Protection Act 1972 be
strengthened to provide dolphin protection to the fullest extent
possible.
SECTION 3. The city Clerk is hereby directed to send
certified copies of this resolution to United States Senator
Robert Graham, united States Senator Connie Mack, United States
Congressman James Baccus, Florida Governor Lawton Chiles, Florida
State Senator Patti Grogan, Florida State Representative Howard
Futch, National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal
Commission, Florida Department of Natural Resources, Brevard
County Department of Natural Resources and the Dolphin Alliance.
SECTION 4. All resolutions or parts of resolutions in
conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
SECTION 5. This resolution shall become effective
upon its adoption.
The foregoing Resolution
Councilmember
was
a vote, the vote was as follows:
moved for adoption by
The motion was seconded by
and, upon being put into
Mayor Lonnie R. Powell
Vice Mayor Frank oberbeck
Councilmember Carolyn Corum
Councilmember Norma Damp
Councilmember Robert Freeland
The Mayor thereupon declared this Resolution duly passed and
adopted this /~ day of _/~~ ,
1993.
CITY OF SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA
~6n'nie R~ P~w
Mayor
Kathr~n ~. O'Halloran, CMC/AME
city Clerk
(SEAL)
Approve.~d.~~ and Content:
~harl~ 'Ian Nash
City Attorney