The Florida Ocean Alliance is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to bringing together the private sector, academia, and nonprofit research organizations in Florida to protect and enhance Florida’s coastal and ocean resources for continued social and economic benefits. Recognizing the interconnection of Florida to its neighbors in the Caribbean Basin, along the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Coast, the Florida Ocean Alliance is committed to positioning Florida as an international leader to integrate ocean conservation, education, and responsible economic development. Private sector members include representatives from ocean-related industries in tourism, ports, shipping, cruising, recreational and commercial fishing, and recreational boating. Other members include representatives from nonprofit research organizations, academia, the ocean research community, and public interest groups.
The Alliance serves as a clearinghouse for information on key ocean and coastal issues facing Florida. It monitors and publicizes actions related to the oceans and coasts. The Alliance focuses on outreach and educational activities for the public and policymakers, including conferences, papers on ocean and coastal policies, economic studies, and testimony to national or state agencies and commissions concerned with ocean or coastal policy. Each year the Alliance sponsors Florida Oceans Day in the State Capitol in Tallahassee.
The Alliance was formed in 1999 and evolved from the members participating in the Florida Governor’s Ocean Committee. This group recognized the vital role of coastal and ocean resources to Florida’s quality of life and economic vitality in their 1999 Final Report. The Florida Ports Council provided an initial seed grant for the organization.
Today, Florida Ocean Alliance comprises 31 member organizations that share a common passion for ocean conservation and a resilient blue economy.
The Florida Ocean Alliance is dedicated to bringing together the private sector, academia, and nonprofit research organizations in Florida to protect and enhance Florida’s coastal and ocean resources for social and economic benefit. Working together with disparate groups within these sectors, we find and implement solutions so that the state and communities will continue to protect and benefit from Florida’s rich coastal and ocean assets.
The Florida Ocean Alliance’s vision is to position Florida as a national and global leader in ocean and coastal research, conservation, education, and responsible economic development. We envision a Blue Economy where the state and communities enjoy both economic and environmental resiliency.
The priorities of Florida Ocean Alliance are:
Ocean conservation and responsible economic development in Florida’s Blue Economy
Ocean and coastal issues facing Florida
Outreach and educational activities for the public and policymakers
Recognizing the interconnection of Florida to its neighbors in the Caribbean Basin, along the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Coast, the Florida Ocean Alliance is committed to positioning Florida as an international leader, integrating ocean conservation, education, and responsible economic development.
A product of collaboration between the private sector, academia, and nonprofit research organizations, Securing Florida’s Blue Economy: A Strategic Policy Plan for Florida's Oceans and Coasts contains priority issues, strategies and actions that bridge the gap between policy and stewardship of Florida’s rich portfolio of ocean and coastal resource assets (natural and human-built). Implementation of the Plan will result in economic expansion and improved resilience. Plan priorities can be implemented in the near-term without a need for extensive resources. The Plan was called for and supported by a 2019 grant from the Florida Legislature.
Florida Ocean Alliance is led by a 29-member Board of Directors with a nine-member Executive Committee. The organization brings together those who want to highlight the importance of the oceans to public policymakers so that key issues reach the public policy agenda. The Alliance serves as a forum for public policy activity relating to the oceans that overlaps governmental, academic, and private sectors. With all stakeholders seated at the same table, FOA serves as a diverse advisory network for ocean public policy moving Florida toward economic and environmental resiliency.