Discover Florida’s Oceans Specialty License Plate
Frequently Asked Questions
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute
Why is the Discover Florida’s Oceans Specialty
License Plate important?
Florida’s oceans, estuaries and coastal areas comprise
a critical element of Florida’s economy, serving
as a source of commerce for fishermen, commercial shippers,
cruise
ship operators, real estate developers, hotels and resorts,
retailers and countless other business enterprises, large
corporations and mom-and-pop businesses. Revenues generated
from the sale
of the Discover Florida’s Oceans plate
will support scientific research, conservation and education
projects of statewide scientific, environmental and economic
significance, which may be used to develop solutions to
the challenges of conservation and sustainable human development.
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How much does a plate cost?
Florida legislation mandates a
$25.00 annual use fee for a specialty plate, which is in
addition to the standard license
plate fee.
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Who is Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute?
The best way to
conserve natural systems is to understand them and the
human interactions that affect them. Since 1963,
HSWRI has pioneered scientific discoveries about oceanic
animals and their ecosystems; these discoveries help
identify solutions to the challenges of both conservation
and sustainable
human development, which is HSWRI’s mission: “To
return to the sea some measure of the benefits derived
from it.”
HSWRI was founded in California and has operational headquarters
in San Diego, California. The east coast offices opened in
Orlando more than 10 years ago and HSWRI has conducted scientific
research in Florida from these offices. HSWRI will expand its
scientific research and education programs in Florida by building
a world-class research center in Brevard County, Florida, on
land donated by the Richard King Mellon Foundation. The research
center is uniquely located next to the Archie Carr National
Wildlife Refuge with access to both to the Atlantic Ocean and
the Indian River Lagoon.
Our organization is an independent, not-for-profit public
charity with programs in scientific research, conservation
and education. It is not an advocacy organization.
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What is HSWRI’s relationship to SeaWorld?
Hubbs was founded
40 years ago by the same people who founded SeaWorld,
Inc. As a result of our founder’s vision,
HSWRI enjoys a unique partnership with SeaWorld and
its parent companies, Busch Entertainment Corporation and
Anheuser-Busch.
HSWRI scientists have access to the world-class zoological
collections of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens to conduct
research that can help threatened species and wild populations.
In
many cases, this research would be difficult or impossible
to conduct in the wild.
Many people confuse HSWRI and SeaWorld because we share the
globally recognized and respected SeaWorld name. HSWRI is an
independent non-profit organization.
Sea World supports HSWRI by providing annual donations and
research facilities at SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Diego.
SeaWorld supports the Institute because our scientific research
is a valuable and important part of SeaWorld’s mission.
HSWRI is one of many not-for-profit organizations supported
by SeaWorld, Busch Entertainment Corporation and Anheuser-Busch
HSWRI is a separate and independent non-profit organization
classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) public
charity. HSWRI must seek funds from many sources to fulfill
its mission. Contributions from individuals, corporations and
foundations are used to directly support the Institute’s
independent and highly respected scientific research and education
programs.
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What does Hubbs do in Florida?
HSWRI conducts a wide range
of research projects in Florida. Active projects include
responding to injured whales and dolphins
that strand on the beaches of east central Florida; evaluating
the ecology of dolphins as a top-level predator in the Indian
River Lagoon; mapping conservation lands associated with
the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (a globally important
sea turtle habitat/refuge); providing scientific leadership
to develop an international center for sharing knowledge
about
rare pygmy and dwarf sperm whale research; implementing cutting-edge
research on the vast ocean migrations of the endangered leatherback
turtles; and providing education program development to promote
scientific literacy. Some recent examples of our scientific
excellence and leadership include:
- Developing a research partnership with the University
of Central Florida to track the vast ocean migrations of
the first endangered leatherbacks from Florida using advanced
satellite
transmitters.
- Providing leadership in responding to live
and dead dolphin and whale strandings in Florida’s
northeast and east central counties, a “hotspot” region
for dolphin and whale strandings in the southeastern U.S.
- Archiving
and maintaining the statewide dolphin and whale stranding
database on behalf of the NOAA National Marine
Fisheries
Service.
- Creating a world-class center for scientific research,
conservation and education on lands donated to the Institute
by the
Richard King Mellon Foundation.
- Endowing the first Hubbs-SeaWorld Professorship
at the University of Central Florida and attracting a world-class
marine
researcher to fill the joint faculty position.
- Seeking scientific solutions
to human and animal conflicts through scientific research,
use of bioacoustics and
new technologies.
- Sharing our discoveries with teachers and students to promote
scientific literacy through innovative programs.
As an example, HSWRI is working with the Brevard County Public School System
to create a pilot program for science teacher development
called the “Deep Science” program.
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Why did HSWRI decide to sponsor a Florida specialty license
plate?
Florida’s specialty license plate program provides
millions of dollars of voluntary, non-tax revenue to worthwhile
programs
throughout the state each year. HSWRI is conducting scientific
research in Florida that has statewide, national and international
significance. A stable revenue source, such as that from a
license plate, will help fund HSWRI programs in research, conservation
and education, thereby contributing direct and indirect benefits
to Florida’s environment, economy and quality of
life. Direct quality of life benefits include:
- Seeking scientific knowledge to protect the environmental
and economic value of Florida’s living ocean, estuary
and coastal resources.
- Promoting research to quantify the
economic value of Florida’s
ocean resources.
- Expanding programs associated with HSWRI
building a world-class research facility in Brevard County,
Florida. This initiative
will create high-tech jobs, expand HSWRI science programs
throughout the region (Florida, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf
of Mexico), enhance scientific literacy through education
and outreach programs, and contribute to a marine science and technology
cluster of government, academic, high tech and non-profit
research organizations in central Florida.
- Providing essential public service
through the proper handling and removal of dead stranded
marine species from northeast
and east central Florida’s beaches which protects
human health, community aesthetics, and coastal community
tourism
interests.
Offering a Discover Florida’s Oceans license
plate will enable state residents to show their support for
and love of the oceans, a treasure that makes this state
unique.
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How will you market the plate?
Interest in the Discover Florida’s
Oceans is
expected to be widespread, given that most residents in
the state live no more than 50 miles from the coast. HSWRI
has
developed an innovative marketing strategy to reach a broad
statewide audience. Our marketing strategy is enhanced
by our long-term relationship with SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.
In
addition, HSWRI has already identified several interested
corporate sponsors to assist the Institute via direct marketing,
promotion
and advertising.
Marketing Partners include:
- SeaWorld Orlando
- Darden Restaurants
- Ron Jon Surf Shop
- ChevronTexaco
- Anson-Stoner
- Clear Channel Communications
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How will the revenues be distributed?
The Florida Legislature
will direct that the revenues are distributed in the
following way:
Twenty percent of the funds collected will be distributed
to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc. in partnership
with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FFWCC) for ocean, estuarine or coastal scientific research,
conservation, and education projects of statewide significance.
Not more than 10 percent of the funds received may be used
for administrative costs directly associated with Hubbs-SeaWorld
Research Institute research, conservation and education programs
and this specialty license plate funding.
Not more than 15 percent of the funds may be used for continuing
promotion and marketing of the license plate.
The remainder of the funds – at least 55 percent – shall
be used by HSWRI for its research endeavors, including collecting,
analyzing, archiving and publishing scientific data regarding
Florida’s ocean, estuary and coastal habitats and species
that inhabit, utilize or migrate in Florida’s waters
or coastal areas, and for education programs that promote scientific
literacy.
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Will the money stay in Florida?
YES. HSWRI has filed
Articles of Incorporation under Chapter 617 of the laws
of the State of Florida to create the Hubbs
Florida Ocean Fund. This independent Florida
Corporation will serve charitable, scientific and educational
purposes,
funded by revenues from the sale of Discover Florida’s
Oceans license plates. All incorporation requirements
will be fulfilled by spring 2004.
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What kinds of projects will the revenues fund?
HSWRI will work
with FWCC scientists to determine project priorities on
an annual basis. Central to those decisions will be funding
for critically needed scientific research and education that
has both local and global importance. Examples of priority
scientific research already identified for 2003-2005 include:
- Expansion of HSWRI cutting-edge scientific research
programs in bioacoustics, animal physiology, long-term
ecosystem studies and aquaculture throughout Florida.
- Programs associated with HSWRI’s statewide
leadership in marine species strandings and animal health.
- Experimental aquaculture on rare, threatened, endangered
species and species of economic importance to Florida.
- Economic studies of the value of Florida’s
ocean resources to scientific research, tourism, biotechnology
and
living resources conservation management.
- Support for the construction of a world-class marine
research facility associated with the Archie Carr National
Wildlife Refuge in Brevard County, Florida, on land donated
for this purpose by the Richard King Mellon Foundation.
- Expansion of ongoing research partnerships and
programs with Florida Space Research Institute, Florida Institute
of
Technology, University of Central Florida, and other organizations
and institutions of distinction.
- Creation of new research collaborations with University
of Florida, Florida State University and other state universities.
- Creation of a new ocean–biotechnology–remote
sensing research partnerships with the Florida Space Life
Sciences Laboratory at Kennedy Space Center and Scripps Research
Institute.
- Creation of facility support laboratories for aquatic
space experiments (providing fish as food for prolonged
periods in space) and to study fish diseases and prevention
methods
in a quarantined environment.
- Expansion of the young scientist intern program which
is designed to advance scientific literacy, and creation of
the “Deep Science” teacher professional development
program to train K-12 science teachers.
- Education and research programs to share our world-class
collection of over 500 whale and dolphin skulls to enhance
public knowledge and appreciation for Florida’s diverse
and valuable living ocean resources.
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Do you have any partners?
YES. HSWRI prides itself in a long
history of successful and innovative strategic partnering.
A key partner in the Discover
Florida’s Oceans license plate program will be
the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC),
who will receive 20 percent of the funds from license plate
sales for ocean, estuarine or coastal scientific research,
and conservation and education projects. FWCC shares the
Institute’s
core belief that scientific excellence and objectivity are
the foundation for responsible fish and wildlife management
to provide lasting benefits to Florida’s residents
and visitors.
HSWRI has a long history of creating strategic partnerships
with academic institutions, corporations and other non-profit
organizations that share our dedication to scientific excellence,
objectivity and accountability. Revenues from the Discover
Florida’s Oceans will enable HSWRI to expand its
strategic partnerships.
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How will HSWRI ensure fiscal accountability?
HSWRI will contract
for an independent third-party financial audit each year,
per IRS guidelines, and provide the substantive
findings of the audit in a Discover Florida’s
Oceans annual report that will be distributed
to Florida legislators and made available on all websites
associated
with HSWRI and the Hubbs Florida Ocean Fund.
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How much money do you hope to raise annually?
Based on research
and projections, Hubbs Florida Ocean Fund (HSWRI) expects
to raise between $1-2 million annually by
strictly following its marketing strategy and optimizing
support from corporate marketing partners.
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