Municipal marina first of its kind to receive recognition

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection informed local Historic City News reporters that the City of St. Augustine Municipal Marina has been designated the second “Clean and Resilient Marina” in the state.  According to the announcement this morning, the local facility is also the first municipal marina to earn the designation.

The City of St. Augustine Municipal Marina is a leader in emergency planning and an asset to Florida’s marina and boating community; having met and exceeded marine environmental best management practices in the Clean Marina Program, as well as resiliency practices outlined in the Clean and Resilient Marina Initiative.

“The city of St. Augustine is America’s first city and is home to our nation’s oldest port. For 450 years our coastal waterways have provided the foundation of our city’s existence and sustainability,” harbormaster Sam R. Adukiewicz, told local reporters. “Because of our rich history we are proud and honored to be the first municipal marina in the state of Florida to receive the Clean and Resilient Marina designation.”

Florida’s “Clean and Resilient Marina Initiative” recognizes marinas that have demonstrated their commitment; not only to environmental stewardship through implementing best management practices at their facility, but also a step beyond to implement practices that achieve an additional level of resiliency, sustainability and environmental responsibility.

“The City of St. Augustine Municipal Marina is a leader in Florida’s marine and boating industry,” Northeast District Director Greg Strong told local reporters. “The Northeast District is proud to designate the second Clean and Resilient Marina in Florida, and we are especially proud of the environmental stewards at City of St. Augustine Municipal Marina who implement practices that contribute to emergency preparedness and sustainability.”

The Clean and Resilient Marina Initiative is a Gulf of Mexico Alliance project born from the Coastal Community Resilience Team and part of the Governors’ action plan.

The multi-state partnership includes the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas; with the goal of significantly increasing regional collaboration to enhance the ecological and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico.

The initiative calls for the promotion and expansion of resilient and environmentally responsible operations and best management practices at marinas. This helps promote marinas that can bounce back quickly from both natural and man-made disasters.

Florida has nearly 1 million registered motorized vessels and more than 2,000 marinas — the largest number of marine facilities in the country. Drawing millions of visitors each year, Florida’s clear waters, world-class beaches and coral reefs supplement a $67.2 billion tourism industry, an $18.4 billion boating industry and a fishing industry that injects more than $6.9 billion a year into Florida’s communities. Protecting Florida’s waterways is essential for the continued growth of our state’s aquatic industries. To date, 284 marinas have been recognized by the Clean Marina Program, in addition to 43 boatyards and 19 designated clean retailers. Marinas that are already certified as Clean Marinas can use provided resources to become certified as Clean and Resilient Marinas.

For more information about the Florida Clean Marina Program, click here.

For more information about the Gulf of Mexico Alliance’s Clean and Resilient Marina Program, click here.