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11/2/11 9:47 AM

Subject: Coastal America's Spirit Award From: To: Date: CORALations (coralations@yahoo.com) Carli.Bertrand@usda.gov; Wednesday, October 26, 2011 12:03 PM

Dear Ms. Bertrans: I am writing to inquire about a past coastal Americas spirit award. We are updating our website and I noticed there is no information on line, nor any indication of award received for a 2005 CASA given to all orgs and agencies involved in the designation of the first no take marine protected area in Puerto Rico's water - Culebra. This reserve was proposed by local fishermen in 1981 and finally designated by local government in 1999. We are compiling this history and were baffled on learning from electronic website of one of our politicians we, and more importantly the local fishermen and others were given this award, but have not so much as received a certificate to reflect this. Today there is no indication online of any local groups having received this award and on line it even indicates that HUD was involved? That's news to me. HUDS involved in a lot of things here - for sure, but the MPA designation was defintely not one of them. After a 20 year designation struggle, it would be great if at least the local Fishermen for recognized for this contribution - given they are our voices with other fishermen and only hope we have of encouraging the designation of coastal reserves needed to meaningfully replenish local fish stocks. Many thanks, Mary Ann Lucking Director CORALations P.O. Box 750 Culebra, PR 00775 www.coralations.org 787.556.6234 email: maryann@coralations.org

Trabajando con comunidades del Caribe para proteger y restaurar sus arrecifes de coral. <<><<<>>><>> Working with Caribbean communities to protect and restore their coral reefs.

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Coastal America 2005 Awards Program List of Award Winners June 7, 2005
Region Name of Nominated Team Team Activities Federal Agencies Involved Tools of the Coastal America Partnership Utilized CWRP Award Presented

NE

Drakes Island Salt Marsh Restoration Team

This project improved and restored approximately 77 acres of salt marsh by enhancing tidal inundation and circulation. The project included the removal of an existing undersized culvert and replacement with the first selfregulating tide gate in the state of Maine. This new technology was designed to allow for both flood protection to lowlying adjacent properties as well as facilitating salt marsh restoration. The Lonsdale Marsh Restoration Project was identified through a comprehensive watershed evaluation of ecological restoration opportunities aimed at restoring and linking key habitats to enhance overall watershed functioning. The project involved the restoration of 17 acres of habitat by removing a former drive-in theater within a heavily urbanized watershed. The project created a continuous wooded riparian buffer along the Blackstone River, linking important upstream and downstream habitats for the watersheds wildlife community.

NOAA, EPA, FWS

Partnership Award

NE

Lonsdale Wetlands Restoration Team

USACE, NPS, EPA

CWRP

Partnership Award

20,000 acres of salt marsh and adjacent upland buffers in the Delaware Estuary as part of a permit requirement proposed by the company. PSE&G is the lead corporation in New Jersey and has been very active in the establishment of other state chapters in the MidAtlantic region. SE IGFA Regional Ocean Conservation Club (ROCC) When the National Student Summit in January 2004 asked the participating students to form a commitment to action to carry out once they returned to their areas, the IGFA formed the Regional Ocean Conservation Club concept. ROCC is a club that partners schools with private, NGO, and state/federal agencies. The most significant achievement is that the high school students are working closely with so many agencies to conduct a variety of educational and restoration projects. On august 21, 1999 the Luis Pea Channel Natural Reserve was established. The 637 ha area reserve became a reality because the combined effort of many citizens, community leaders, academia, and government agencies at all levels (i.e. Municipal, Commonwealth, and Federal). The main purpose of the reserve is to protect and manage significant coral reefs and endangered marine turtles, as well as to protect the breeding ground of many commercial fish species. The most significant achievements of this project were the establishment of the first community-driven no-take marine reserve in Puerto Rico. NOAA CELC Spirit Award

SE

Culebra Island Conservation Coalition: Luis Pea Channel Natural Reserve

NOAA, FWS, HUD

Spirit Award

United States Representative Luis Fortuo - Puerto Rico - -->Fortuo Anuncia que Proye... Page 1 of 2

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PUERTO RICO RESIDENT COMMISSIONER LUIS G. FORTUO Comunicado de Prensa viernes, 17 de junio de 2005

Fortuo anuncia que Proyecto de Reserva Submarina en Culebra recibe el Coastal America Spirit Award

Washington D.C.- El Comisionado Residente en Washington, Luis G. Fortuo, anunci que el proyecto de la Reserva Submarina en Culebra fue seleccionado para recibir el premio "Coastal America Spirit Award". Dicha distincin, que es avalada por el Presidente de los Estados Unidos, es un prestigioso premio nacional que se otorga por esfuerzos sobresalientes para la proteccin, preservacin y restauracin de los recursos naturales costeros. Este proyecto, que data de los aos 80 y que culmin con la designacin de la primera reserva natural submarina de no-pesca en Puerto Rico, no hubiese sido posible sin la colaboracin de diversos sectores. El Comisionado record que la idea para la creacin de esta reserva surgi de los pescadores de Culebra que advirtieron la necesidad de crear un rea en el canal Luis Pea donde no se permitiera la pesca y que sirviera como un vivero natural para especies submarinas de alto valor natural y comercial. Fortuo dijo que la reserva se ha convertido en un lugar donde se protegen y estudian los arrecifes de coral, y las tortugas marinas, y sirve como un santuario para la crianza de peces. El Comisionado Residente reconoci la colaboracin de diversos grupos tales como: el Municipio de Culebra, la Autoridad Conservacin y Desarrollo de Culebra, la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Comit Fondo Marino Culebra, CORALations Inc., Departamento de Recursos Naturales, la Asociacin Estudiantil Atan, y los programas de Compaeros para la Vida Silvestre, Costero, y Refugios del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre, en entre otros. Fortuo, quien colabor con la creacin de esta reserva cuando sirvi como director de la Compaa de Turismo y como secretario de Desarrollo Econmico y Comercio destac que el reconocimiento al proyecto de proteccin de hbitat marino en Culebra es lo que sucede cuando varias agencias gubernamentales, ciudadanos y grupos comunitarios trabajan juntos para una meta comn. Coastal America Partnership es una asociacin creada por el Presidente George Bush en 1991 con el propsito de proteger las zonas costeras y para orientar a que las comunidades promuevan alianzas con distintas agencias del gobierno federal, estatal y grupos comunitarios para enfrentarse a los distintos retos que presentan las zonas costeras. Por ltimo Fortuo agradeci el liderato del Director de la Regin 4 de Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre, Sam D. Hamilton, y a Leopoldo Miranda-Castro quien tuvo la visin de nominar el proyecto para la consideracin del premio. ##

http://www.house.gov/list/speech/pr00_fortuno/culebra.html

9/19/2006