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April 26, 2024
Our policy intern, Monique Paul, was awarded the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Master of Professional Science Student Award for Excellence in Ocean Stewardship!
For her Master's thesis, Monique developed a fertilizer ordinance focused on environmental conditions and threats to South Florida's waterways. The ordinance regulates the use of fertilizer by any applicator. It specifies appropriate application rates, application practices, and prohibited application periods such as during the summer rainy season. This legislative tool will provide a mechanism for municipalities to decrease the amount of nutrients lost to Biscayne Bay from stormwater runoff.
In recent years, Miami has suffered from algal blooms, which can occur when an excess of nutrients are added to waterbodies. Algal blooms can lead to fish kills, seagrass die offs, and hypoxia. They can also be harmful to coral reefs and can cause adverse health effects in humans.
In addition to the fertilizer ordinance, Monique developed a resolution that would express the will of municipalities to stop the use of glyphosate-containing herbicides like Roundup on public property. Recent studies have shown that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen in humans, likely linked to some cancers such as Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Monique's work was supported, in part, by the NOAA Habitat Blueprint Program.
Congratulations on your award Monique! Thank you for all your hard work!