Declare Estuaries Week Statewide

Senate Resolution No. 782 BY: Senator LAVALLE MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 16-23, 2017, as Estuaries Week in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to increase public awareness of, and appreciation for, the natural resources of this great Empire State, as well as recognize the role all citizens have in protecting the environment and the quality of life within New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is moved to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 16-23, 2017, as Estuaries Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Estuaries Week; and WHEREAS, Estuaries are unique coastal environments that support more life per square inch than any other ecosystem on Earth, providing habitat for countless species of fish, shellfish, birds, and marine mammals; and WHEREAS, Estuaries provide numerous services to coastal populations, acting as a first line of defense against storms, rising sea levels, and the effects of climate change as well as a natural water filtration system; and WHEREAS, The New York State estuarine regions support approximately

85% of the New York State population and 45% of the State Gross Domestic Product (GDP); and WHEREAS, Preserving the fish habitats and populations will also preserve New York's recreational and commercial fishing industries which generate over $2.2 billion annually; 41% of that revenue comes from the harvest of estuarine-dependent species; and WHEREAS, Maintaining clean shorelines attracts millions of tourists and locals who come to the New York coasts for recreational activities, an industry which added $12.2 billion to the economy in 2004; and WHEREAS, New York State is home to three estuaries of National Significance, the Peconic Estuary, Long Island Sound and the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary, and two estuaries of state-wide significance, the South Shore Estuary Reserve and the Hudson River Estuary; these areas, as well as many smaller estuaries, are integral to the environment, economy, and quality of life in New York State; and WHEREAS, Protecting and restoring our estuaries is vital to our local and national economy because they sustain the fisheries which feed America, ensure outdoor recreational opportunities for current and future generations, reduce the costly impacts of natural hazards, and support local jobs which cannot be exported; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 16-23, 2017, as Estuaries Week in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.