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Jim Anderson Honored with Florida Conservation Award
‘Don Hensen Conservation Award’ Honors Anderson’s Seagrass Restoration Work
Indian Rocks Beach, Florida (February 28, 2008) – Greengrass
Holdings, LLC, announced today that Jim Anderson, the company’s Vice President of
Research & Development and the founder of its seagrass recovery technologies,
will receive the 2008 “Don Hensen Conservation Award.”
Currently in its 20th year, the award honors conservation efforts around the state
and is named after the former commissioner of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation
Commission, Don Hensen. Past recipients include Governor Charlie Crist,
Captain Bill Miller of Channel 47’s “Hooked on Fishing,”
Tampa Tribune veteran outdoors writer, Frank
Sargeant, and many other Florida notables.
Mr. Henson will present the award to Jim Anderson at the
Tribune’s
Outdoors Expo & Boat Show at the Florida State Fairgrounds on 2008.
“We’re proud of and thrilled for Jim for this well-deserved
recognition. Jim pioneered seagrass restoration methods and his innovative
techniques have helped repair and conserve seagrass habitat all over the state and
elsewhere. Considering that Florida’s
coastal seagrass habitats are under tremendous environmental
pressures, and with March serving as ‘Seagrass Awareness Month,’ honoring Jim’s
past conservation efforts couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. On behalf of all our employees,
we congratulate Jim for this great honor,” said Jeff Beggins, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Greengrass Holdings, LLC, which purchased the assets and technologies
of Seagrass Recovery in July 2008.
About Florida’s Seagrass
Seagrass meadows are the protective and developmental habitat
for all manner of marine life, including manatees, turtles, fish, shellfish, shrimp,
sea horses, crabs, plants and many other species important to the overall health
of underwater ecosystems.
In fact, 70 percent of Florida’s fish and shellfish populations depend upon seagrass habitat
for survival. Without healthy seagrass, these species could not develop,
grow nor thrive. Seagrass also improves water quality, decreases sedimentation,
stabilizes the ocean bottom and prevents erosion.
Simply stated, Florida is seagrass.
However, the state is losing seagrass habitat at an alarming
rate.
An incredibly fragile marine ecosystem, seagrass does not always have the capability
to self-regenerate.
Once damaged by boat groundings or propellers, by pollution
or nutrient run-off, the damage is permanent and ultimately spreads to surrounding
seagrass beds and meadows unless efforts are made to repair damages.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) concluded that in 1950
there were five million acres of coastal seagrass surrounding Florida. Since that time over two million acres have been
lost.
In addition, in 2000 the FDEP estimated the state’s existing 2.7 million acres of
seagrass contributed approximately $124 billion to the commercial and recreational
fisheries industry. Clearly, without healthy coastal seagrass communities, Florida’s marine environment and state economy will be adversely
impacted.
About Seagrass Recovery
Since 1996, Seagrass Recovery has successfully transplanted,
repaired and grown several species of seagrass. The company, located in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida,
has completed more than 50 restoration projects around the world, many in Florida.
Once Seagrass Recovery becomes involved in a project,
measurable results are typically achieved within 12-18 months. This success represents
a paradigm shift in how seagrass restoration is applied and achieved.
Seagrass Recovery’s innovative methods and technologies –
the company holds nine industry-specific patents – are unique in the industry.
These include techniques that have been scientifically peer-reviewed and approved
by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association as well as by the Florida Department
of
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Seagrass Recovery also conducts ongoing project
measurement and quality control to assure the continued health and expansion of
seagrass habitat.
Today, Seagrass Recovery is actively teaming with concerned citizens, organizations,
educational institutions, and corporations across Florida and the nation to protect, restore and expand seagrass habitat.
The company’s mission is to save oceans, estuaries and shorelines for generations
to come. To learn more about Seagrass Recovery, please visit www.seagrassrecovery.com.
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