Miami Beach, FL — Ocean Conservancy today announced its newest Shores Forward partner: Miami Beach. Following a successful first year of Shores Forward partnership with the City of Miami, Miami Beach is the newest local government in Florida to join this initiative led by Ocean Conservancy to partner with local leaders in the fight to conserve Florida’s most treasured asset: its marine environment.

The Shores Forward partnership was announced during the city’s November commission meeting, with presentations from Ocean Conservancy’s Chief of Strategy, Kacky Andrews, and Board Member Bonnie Crabtree. The partnership will focus on five key issue areas identified in Ocean Conservancy’s Currents and Crossroads report: water quality, marine wildlife, education and outreach, marine debris, and carbon pollution.

Ocean Conservancy will help promote alternatives for turf lawns to further improve Miami Beach’s environmental stewardship and partner with Miami Beach on several city projects, including the development of the city’s first fertilizer ordinance. As part of the Shores Forward partnership, the organization will also work with South Florida stakeholders to develop local seagrass nurseries to provide specimens for plantings, with the goal to provide abundant seagrass coverage at the city and county level across Biscayne Bay.

“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.”

“We are excited to begin this important work with Ocean Conservancy,” Elizabeth Wheaton, Director of the Miami Beach Environment and Sustainability Department. “Ocean conservation and environmental protection are critical to the sustainability of our community. These efforts to improve water quality are especially urgent, and we’re looking forward to making some meaningful improvements as a result of this partnership.”

“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 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 said. “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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J.P. Brooker is available for interviews upon request.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.