Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day

Proclamation

By the Governor of Alabama

WHEREAS, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division is a duly constituted governmental agency, created to serve the State of Alabama and is charged with managing the marine resources of this state including removal of nonnative, invasive species; and

WHEREAS, Alabama has the largest artificial reef system in the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, Lionfish are a nonnative, invasive species that negatively impact Alabama’s native saltwater reef fish and habitat; and

WHEREAS, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division and the NUSIANCE group encourages the public to remove Lionfish from Alabama waters whenever they can; and

WHEREAS, localized Lionfish removal efforts have a proven positive impact on native wildlife and habitat; and

WHEREAS, continued outreach and education efforts on Lionfish can positively influence the public to partake in removal efforts:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim September 24, 2016, as

Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day

in the State of Alabama.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 1st day of September 2016.

Robert Bentley

Governor