SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 23

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 14, 1996

By Senator BENNETT

A Joint Resolution designating the second Saturday of June each year as "Delaware Bay Day" in New Jersey.

Whereas, The Delaware bay is a thriving ecosystem, a wetland of international significance, and home to 130 fish species, hundreds of thousands of shore birds, waterfowl and raptors; and

Whereas, A major river system of the Delaware bay, the Maurice river and its tributaries, has been included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; and

Whereas, A healthy, prosperous integration of industry and the environment can be based on the recognition that the life of the Delaware bay is important to our economy; and

Whereas, The rich natural and cultural heritage of the Delaware bay has been celebrated on "Delaware Bay Day" since 1993 with family activities, crafts, exhibits and entertainment; and

Whereas, The host of this event has been the Delaware Bay Schooner Project, whose mission "is to build stewardship and provide education to conserve and enrich the culture, history, and natural resources of the Delaware Estuary;" and

Whereas, It is appropriate for the State of New Jersey to recognize and celebrate the importance and beauty of the Delaware bay ecosystem in the early part of June each year; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The second Saturday in June of each year shall be designated as "Delaware Bay Day" in New Jersey for the purposes of recognizing and celebrating the importance and beauty of the Delaware bay ecosystem.

    2. The people of the State and all appropriate State and local governmental entities are urged to observe "Delaware Bay Day" by participating in activities that recognize and celebrate the importance and beauty of the Delaware bay ecosystem.

    3. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution shall be transmitted to the Director of the Division of Travel and Tourism, in the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, and the governing body of every municipality located within a county bordering on the Delaware bay.

    4. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This joint resolution would designate the second Saturday in June of each year as "Delaware Bay Day" in New Jersey. The Delaware bay is a thriving ecosystem, a wetland of international significance, and home to 130 fish species, hundreds of thousands of shore birds, waterfowl and raptors. A major river system of the Delaware bay, the Maurice river and its tributaries, has been included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. A healthy, prosperous integration of industry and the environment can be based on the recognition that the life of the Delaware bay is important to our economy. The rich natural and cultural heritage of the Delaware bay has been celebrated on "Delaware Bay Day" since 1993 with family activities, crafts, exhibits and entertainment. The host of this event has been the Delaware Bay Schooner Project, whose mission "is to build stewardship and provide education to conserve and enrich the culture, history, and natural resources of the Delaware Estuary.

Designates 2nd Saturday of June as "Delaware Bay Day."