LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Florida Should Start Listening to Scientists and Facts
Longtime commercial fisherman — and conservationist — has a message for Florida and its new residents.
To The Editor:
Imagine if you will, a place where the almighty tourist dollar reigns supreme — the leading "conservation agency" is ruled by developers, development knows no bounds, and the symptoms of environmental degradation are treated-rather than the actual causes.
You are not entering the "Twilight Zone," but a very real place called Florida. Some prefer to call it Floriduh, and for good reason.
The residents of this once beautiful state keep electing representatives addicted to the tourist dollar — willing to tolerate anything in the name of tourism: crowded highways, polluted beaches, dead coral reefs, reduced quality of life, etc..
As long as the tourists keep flocking to Florida, and spending money, nothing else seems to matter.
Rather than focusing on the actual causes of the coral die off in the Florida Keys (degraded water quality) Florida chooses to treat the symptoms by replanting more coral, which dies off because-you guessed it-the water quality is so bad. It is sort of like constantly replacing the tires on your car or truck rather than repairing the road. The Sunshine State never seems to get it right.
Florida's leading conservation agency (FWC) is governed by a board of secen commissioners, all of which are developers. Not a single biologist, nor a commercial fisherman on this Governor appointed board. Having a commercial fisherman on the commission would be considered "a conflict of interest." Yet, having a board comprised entirely of developers is not? If Florida was serious about managing its resources the state would seek the advice of biologists and those who make their living on the water. However, Florida seeks the advice of developers, who have had plenty of experience clearing forests, filling wetlands, and are experts at destroying Florida's natural resources. No surprise that once again Florida has its priorities backwards.
WTF (Welcome To Florida) — my home state — born and reared here. A land of immense natural beauty and unparalleled greed. A state whose motto should be "No One Saved Any Buffalo For Me!"
Don DeMaria
Native Floridian
Summerland Key
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