MIAMI, Florida (22 Mar 2004) -- A bill in the Florida Legislature this session aims to create a state artificial reef commission to facilitate procurement of surplus U.S. Navy ships. The Great Florida Wreck-reation Diving Trail Act of 2004 is co-sponsored by Reps. Julio Robaina, R-South Miami, and Frank Attkisson, R-Kissimmee, in the House and by Senate Majority Leader Dennis Jones, R-Seminole. It goes before the House Commerce Committee on Monday. The bill would establish a five-member commission - three representing scuba diving interests and two from the state's tourism arm, Visit Florida - to recommend to the governor where to sink decommissioned Navy vessels along the Florida coast. The Navy and U.S. Maritime Administration plan to release as many as 25 retired combat ships for artificial reefs in the next few years. Currently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is the lead state agency in artificial reef planning and placement. The bill doesn't affect the commission's oversight of most artificial reefs. Robaina said the responsibility for getting sites for the surplus Navy warships needs to be shifted away from the FWC because of "turf wars" about where the ships should be sunk. He cited the case of the USS Oriskany, a retired U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that the FWC voted to sink off Pensacola instead of South Florida, where he said the wreck would have drawn more visitors and generated more revenue. The Navy has not decided which state will get the Oriskany. | | "We want an independent group to see where it makes the most sense fiscally and environmentally," Robaina said. "We're trying to create a non-partisan, non-biased group that can make the best decisions for the state of Florida." Stephen O'Neal, a founder of the Dive Miami Alliance and a booster of bringing the Oriskany to South Florida, helped lawmakers draft the bill. "The goal here is the creation of jobs," O'Neal said. "We want to promote eco-tourism in Florida. You can dive your way around the state. We're going to create an east coast and west coast Wreck-reational Trail of artificial reefs." O'Neal emphasized the new artificial reef placement commission would be funded by private donations with administrative support from Visit Florida. |
