Senate Resolution No. 864

BY: Senator KAMINSKY

COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of New York Sea
Grant

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the
continuing welfare of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly
enriched and reliably served by the purposeful endeavors of
organizations and individuals who are committed to the preservation of
our natural environment and the enhancement of the appreciation of the
distinctive features of our surroundings, and to the economic well-being
of the areas in which they exist; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of New York Sea Grant; and

WHEREAS, New York State hosts 3,400 miles of diverse Great Lakes and
marine coastline which provides jobs for 7.5 million people earning $566
billion, contributing over $1.4 trillion in gross domestic product; 81%
of the State's population live and work near the coast; and

WHEREAS, New York's coastal waters play an important role in the
economy and community well-being, protecting the State's coasts and the
resources and ecosystem services they support is essential; and

WHEREAS, Established in 1971, New York Sea Grant is a
community-based organization of integrated stakeholder-driven research,
education, and extension services promoting coastal economic vitality,
environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness and understanding
about the State's marine and Great Lakes resources; and

WHEREAS, New York Sea Grant, one of 34 university-based programs
under the National Sea Grant College Program of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, is a cooperative program of the State
University of New York and Cornell University; and

WHEREAS, New York Sea Grant's funded research, extension, and
education have provided the State's coastal communities with the
information and tools needed to make informed decisions to keep our
coastal ecosystems, communities, and economies healthy, sustainable, and
resilient; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, New York Sea Grant has supported actionable
research and provided community-based programming to support, for
example, safe and clean boating; sustainable seafood and aquaculture
industries; property owners, businesses, municipalities to plan,
prepare, and respond to coastal hazards such as flooding, sea level
rise, and extreme storms; understanding and mitigation of emerging
contaminants and other water quality issues; and the next generation of
coastal scientists and stewards through Kindergarten-12, undergraduate,
and graduate educational opportunities; and

WHEREAS, For five decades, New York Sea Grant has stayed true to its
mission of "Bringing Science to the Shore" through high quality
research, extension, and education; and

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon all citizens to recognize and applaud
the efforts of organizations such as New York Sea Grant which work
tirelessly on behalf of protecting our natural surroundings for the
benefit of present and future generations of New Yorkers; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of New York Sea Grant; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to New York Sea Grant.