The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council completed its public listening tour with a stop in Saint Petersburg. SPAS decided to cancel their board meeting so more members could attend. The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, comprised of federal agencies and the five Gulf States, will control 30% of BP's fines, hopefully to be used to restore the Gulf and protect natural resources. After opening remarks by Dr. Perran Ross (UF) and Gil McRae (Director, FWRI) , we listened to a presentation about BP's buckets of money, how large those buckets might become and how Florida might spend them. Then it was our turn, and we took to the podium to advocate for different pieces of Audubon's plan—an ecosystem approach to Restoration.

About 40 people spoke, at least 6 from Audubon, and we made up about one third of the people present. I was encouraged by the absence of infrastructure related proposals and that every project proposal directly enefited the environment.

The next step is for the council to produce a draft plan and to accept public comment on it. For more information about the RESTORE process, please visit http://fl.audubon.org/restorefloridasgulf.

The RESTORE Act, which passed Congress last year, directed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology Program to “carry out research, observation and monitoring, to support, to the maximum extent practicable, the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem, fish stocks, fish habitat, and the recreational, commercial and charter fishing industry in the Gulf of Mexico.”

Researchers and advocates at the University of South Florida, the Florida Institute of Oceanography and I worked hard to ensure the inclusion of a robust Gulf observation and monitoring initiative in the RESTORE Act. Unlike other areas across the country, the Gulf of Mexico has never had a broad-based observation and monitoring program.

I have a letter from NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenko that outlines the initial framework of the Gulf Observation and Monitoring program. I encourage you to contact me and NOAA with your suggestions for future development.

Thank you for your past and future advocacy. Each step forward brings hope to the millions of people whose livelihoods depend on the health of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. Stay tuned for additional announcements relating to the RESTORE Act and resources for the Gulf coast. In the meantime I encourage you to check out http://www.restorethegulf.gov/task-force.