Okaloosa County BOCC — April 27, 2013 — Hansard - Artificial Reefs — reading text

• Environmental: : 95% of the seafloor of the Florida Panhandle is sandy bottom* ~ Artificial Reefs provide necessary habitat to sustain a healthy fishery *FWC “Creating Marine Habitat The Artificial Reef.” 2003 • Community: Provides recreational opportunities to our residents, increases the value of property by boosting the desirability of living in our area, supports hundreds of local jobs and, encourages tourism. • Economic: For every $1 spent to build Artificial Reefs there was a $131 in economic return!*  Annual Expenditures $23.18M Locals Spent $12.08M Tourists spent $11.1M Private boats $16.24M Commercial/ Charter $6.93M Manatee County has the nearest number of registered boats for comparison to Okaloosa County. Manatee County 19,213 Okaloosa County 18,653 Difference of 560 boats. Manatee has 142 more Commercial / Charter boats than Okaloosa . This is the best comparison to gauge what economic impact Artificial reefs have for our county since Okaloosa County has not done economic impact studies of Artificial Reefs. According to the Haas Research Center, The sinking of the Oriskany brought 2.2 Million Dollars to Escambia Co. in the first year after deployment. 1.2 Million was spent on Dive Trips alone! 68% of Divers were Tourists w/ average incomes over $100K! • Tourism Restaurants/Hotels • Charter Fishing • Marinas • Boat Sales • Dive Charters & Shops • Boat Insurance • Towing Insurance • Boat Maintenance/ Repair • Boat Painters • Canvas Shops • Boat Electronics sales • Fishing Bait & Tackle • Diving equipment • Diving Lessons • Bank Loans • Fuel & Ice Sales • Dock Builders • Plus many more…  NOAA’s Passport program to promote diving along the Florida Panhandle Escambia County (7) Okaloosa (1) USS Oriskany Miss Louise (tugboat) San Pablo (Russian Freighter) Pete Tide II (2 Navy Tenders) 3 Barges Bay County (6) Gulf County (1) Black Bart Vamar USS Strength FAMI (Twin Tugs) USS Accokeek USS Cheppewa Artificial Reefs are one time investments that o pay dividends for decades Promote tourism & keep local recreation dollars in our County Creating Unique Reefs can provide our County with FREE advertising Create & support hundreds of new jobs in Okaloosa County Enjoy tremendous support from Okaloosa County Residents & Businesses What Should We Do? “Out of this World” Diving & Snorkeling © Hansard 2012  “The Cathedral” Diving & Snorkeling © Hansard 2012 © Hansard 2012 © Hansard 2012  B Escambia County U 2012 - Bay Snorkeling Reef and a Gulf Snorkeling I Reef. They also have successfully permitted multiple L reef building areas in State Waters in preparation for D building with BP money! I N Santa Rosa County G 2012 - 2 snorkeling reefs in the sound, one is the size of a football field. They also built a 3rd reef inshore in S the GOM in State Waters. T A T Bay County E 2012 - Built 10 new reefs in 88’ deep water 10 miles off shore and, have completed (2) new permits in in W state waters and have 5 more State water permit A requests currently in the ACOE process! T E R S  Yes! Neighboring Counties Compete with us for Vacationers & Local Recreation Stakeholder Representatives • County Artificial Reef Dept • Tourist Development Council • Fishing Charter • Diving Charter • Snorkeling Charter • Marine Industries Assoc.(Marina Owners) • Boat Sales • Tackle Sales • Boat/Tow Insurance • Recreational Fishing Club • Recreational Diving Club • Emerald Coast Reef Association