Ocean-Conservancy-Partnership-Final
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City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 PRESS RELEASE
Tonya Daniels, E-mail: tonyadaniels@miamibeachfl.gov
Melissa Berthier, E-mail: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2020
Miami Beach Announces Shores Forward Partnership
with Ocean Conservancy
— Partnership aims to support local environmental sustainability efforts —
Miami Beach, FL — Miami Beach has announced a Shores Forward partnership with the
Ocean Conservancy that will support the city’s #PlasticFreeMB initiative and other
environmental programs intended to protect and preserve local waterways and beaches.
“The economic fate of our city is inextricably tied to our success in keeping beaches and
waterways clear of trash and other pollutants as we prioritize the protection of our marine
habitats,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber observed. “This partnership will make the city a
better steward of our world-famous backyard.”
Shores Forward is an Ocean Conservancy initiative to protect Florida’s ocean and coastal
areas in partnership with local governments. The Ocean Conservancy will partner with the City
of Miami Beach to address areas impacting ocean health, such as ocean debris, marine
wildlife, water quality, carbon pollution, climate change, education and outreach. Miami Beach
will benefit from project funding, increased expertise, project management capacity and
connections to relevant partners.
“Ocean Conservancy is thrilled to have Miami Beach join Shores Forward,” Chief of Strategy
for Ocean Conservancy Kacky Andrews said. “This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. Protecting
Florida’s coasts means we all have to work together.”
The city hopes to collaborate with Ocean Conservancy on various city projects involving green
infrastructure, living shorelines, bioretention cells, blue and green roofs as well as natural and
artificial reefs.
Ocean Conservancy along with local nonprofit Miami Waterkeeper is assisting the city with its
first fertilizer ordinance. Ocean Conservancy will help promote alternatives for turf lawns to
further improve Miami Beach’s environmental stewardship. The organization plans to work with
other South Florida stakeholders to develop local seagrass nurseries and provide specimens
for plantings with the goal of providing abundant seagrass coverage throughout Miami-Dade
County.
“The addition of Miami Beach to our Shores Forward is big news for South Florida and
Biscayne Bay. These partnerships with local governments are crucial to the health of our ocean
and the communities that depend on it,” J.P. Brooker, director of Ocean Conservancy’s Florida
Conservation program added. “This partnership is just the first step in a long journey. We look
forward to beginning our work with Miami Beach on the many new projects in store.”
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