The Coastal Conservation Association of Florida has selected eleven state legislators to receive Legislative Conservation Awards in recognition of their support for marine fisheries conservation and saltwater recreational fishing issues during the 2002 Legislative session.

"We are very pleased to recognize these legislators," said CCA Florida Executive Director Ted Forsgren. "Their support and efforts were instrumental in obtaining new net ban enforcement and manatee management legislation during the 2002 session."

The legislators chosen by CCA Florida to receive awards are as follows:

MOST OUTSTANDING HOUSE MEMBER - 2002
REPRESENTATIVE LINDSAY HARRINGTON (R - Punta Gorda)

In addition to the outstanding work of Representative Harrington, CCA Florida specifically recognized ten additional legislators for 2002 CCA FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE
CONSERVATION AWARDS. They are:

SENATOR GINNY BROWN-WAITE (R - Brooksville)
SENATOR JIM KING (R - Jacksonville)
SENATOR JACK LATVALA (R - Palm Harbor)
SENATOR KEN PRUITT (R - Port St. Lucie)
SENATOR BILL POSEY (R - Rockledge)
SENATOR ROD SMITH (D - Gainesville)
REPRESENTATIVE PAULA DOCKERY (R - Lakeland)
REPRESENTATIVE MITCH NEEDLEMAN (R - Palm Bay)
REPRESENTATIVE JOE PICKENS (R - Palatka)
REPRESENTATIVE ANDY GARDINER (R - Orlando)

Representative Lindsay Harrington, Chairman of the House Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Committee, led the effort for substantial new manatee legislation which requires the establishment of measurable biological goals for manatee recovery and sets up balanced local advisory groups to review and comment on proposed manatee speed zones. Representative Harrington took the leadership role on this controversial issue and worked hard to involve all interested groups. In the end, the new manatee legislation was supported by all the boating, fishing, manatee and environmental groups. Senator Bill Posey was the prime sponsor for the manatee legislation in the Senate.

Senator Rod Smith and Representative Joe Pickens were the primary Senate and House sponsors for a law enforcement bill backed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The legislation addressed many issues, of particular importance were measures which closed loopholes relating to fines and penalties for illegal netting and strengthened enforcement measures against commercial fish houses that purchase illegally netted fish.

In the final days of the session, both the manatee and law enforcement bills were combined and passed in a single bill, CS/HB 1243.

The additional legislators recognized for awards played key roles and provided valuable support for the manatee and net ban enforcement legislation at various stages of the legislative process.

"Florida's saltwater anglers should thank these legislators for their support and efforts on these important marine fisheries conservation and manatee issues," said Ted Forsgren.