Introduction

Think of the state of Florida and you cannot help but think of the ocean. We are surrounded on three sides by the sea; we live near it and visit it often. Walks on the beach stir our senses; the sound of surf refreshes and restores our spirits. Out on the waters, we marvel at the mysteries that dwell beneath the surface an incredibly rich abundance of sea life that includes a vast array of fish, marine mammals such as the gentle and remarkable manatee, and the unmatched beauty of the coral reefs.

More than spiritually nourishing, Florida's ocean is literally life-giving. It is the source of the oxygen we breathe, the rain that irrigates our crops, the water we drink, and the food we eat. It provides a basis for some of the state's most important industries, including shipping, fishing, and tourism. Its wealths are many and its ability to sustain us is great; however, increasing demands for energy, minerals, and food, coupled with a growing technological ability to recover these ocean assets, are adding more and more stress on Florida's ocean resources.

Recent years have seen great progress in terms of responsible management of Florida's coastlines and near shore waters, but the state has only recently begun to focus efforts, except on an issue-by-issue basis, to the wise management of the valuable resources that lie offshore. Florida has extensive policies, laws, and rules aimed at managing individual ocean resources; but, currently the state has no comprehensive strategy that would allow for the management of ocean resources within an integrated framework that balances protection with reasonable and responsible use.

The state has stewardship obligations for ocean resources management that are quite different from its responsibility for regulation of activities on land. As "owner" of the seabed and its resources within state boundaries, it is not limited by the scope of its regulatory power or principles of private property rights when regulating ocean uses. This ownership is, however, subject to certain trusteeship obligations. While this responsibility does not require "preservation" of the seas and its resources, it does specifically require that public uses and interests be preserved over private appropriation.

Such a strategy would also allow the state to address conflicts between ocean activities and uses, recognizing the connectedness of natural systems and our dependence on their continued health and vitality. Inherent in the creation of a comprehensive ocean resources management strategy is the understanding that our oceans are connected, the resources are connected, and we are connected.

Florida is not alone in recognizing the wisdom of addressing "deep blue water" issues. Several other state coastal management programs, including Oregon, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and North Carolina, have acknowledged the need to include attention to offshore resources and ocean activities in their overall coastal management efforts.

Further, the U. S. Congress has recognized the importance of oceans by calling for the creation of a unified national ocean policy for the United States. The legislation would create a commission to examine ocean activities and make recommendations for a national policy. Final passage of this legislation is expected early in 1998.

Finally, at the international level the United Nations has designated 1998 as the "International Year of the Ocean," in recognition of the importance of oceans and their resources. The intent of the designation is to focus attention of the public, governments, and decision-makers on the importance of oceans, and to highlight ways in which marine resources can be sustained through effective management.

With so much activity and interest from so many levels of government the message is clear: Florida needs the ability to effectively manage our oceans now. To that end, Governor Chiles has proclaimed 1998 the "Year of the Ocean" for the state of Florida, and has created the Florida Governor's Ocean Committee to bring together diverse ocean interests into a coordinated approach for the protection, enhancement, and management of the state's ocean resources.

Finally, the committee will work to bring the importance of ocean issues to the public's attention.

The Department of Community Affairs' Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP) supported three efforts during 1996-97 to provide information about the current status of Florida's ocean resources and the state's management of them. These efforts, described below, will be important tools for use by the Florida Governor's Ocean Committee. The Ocean Policy Roundtable was an extensive workshop dialogue among public and private groups concerned with ocean resource issues. The roundtable identified ocean management problems, conflicts, and priority issues that a comprehensive ocean management strategy for Florida should address. Looking Seaward: Development of a State Ocean Policy for Florida is a comprehensive overview of the status of law and policy regarding ocean issues. The Statewide Ocean Resource Inventory catalogs ocean resources in a GIS-based format. The following sections describe these efforts.