The regular registration deadline is quickly approaching for the 4th National Working Waterfronts and Waterways Symposium to be held Nov. 16-19, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. Regular registration lasts until Oct. 19, 2015, and costs $425.
The ultimate goal of the symposium is to increase the capacity of coastal communities and individuals, businesses and other organizations dependent on waterfront access to make informed decisions, balance diverse uses and plan for the future of their working waterfronts. People from across the United States attend the symposium to connect with one another and showcase innovative solutions to their waterfront issues.
The National Working Waterfronts & Waterways Symposium is a fantastic opportunity network with individuals from all around the country working to preserve waterfront access and infrastructure. At every symposium, I’m amazed at the innovative programs and initiatives taking place on our working waterfronts.
This year, the five symposium themes are climate change, maritime culture and heritage, recreational boating, waterfront industries and working waterfronts workforce development.
Panels of particular interest to individuals and organizations in Mississippi and Alabama include:
- Marina and port resilience
- Surviving commercial fishing declines
- Enhancing coastal community resilience in working waterfront communities
- Aquaculture: A powerful tool in the preservation of commercial working waterfronts
- Waterfront design and open space
- Solving the abandoned/derelict vessel dilemma
- National Working Waterfront Network policy roundtable: Bracing for working waterfront policy change
The full symposium agenda can be found here.
Planners, managers, attorneys, policy makers, elected/appointed officials, waterway and waterfront advocates, users and developers, property and business owners, researchers and students and others from the following entities are encouraged to attend:
· Federal, tribal, state, county and municipal governments
· Navigation districts and port authorities
· Citizen marine advisory committees and harbor boards
· Local, regional, state, tribal and federal government organizations
· Environmental and maritime consultancies
· Marine, boating, fishing, aquaculture and tourism industries
· Coastal and marine oriented non-profit organizations
· Educational organizations
The registration fee covers participation in the symposium, a field trip, a welcome reception and Wednesday’s evening dinner at The Florida Aquarium. Visit the registration page for more details. Also, be sure to take a look at the field trip options before registering. Each has a maximum number of people that can attend and spots may fill quickly. The field trips will give attendees an opportunity to see successful waterfront planning up close!
The symposium will be held at the Hilton Tampa Downtown and the hotel is offering attendees a $99 per night group room rate. To get the reduced rate, simply identify yourself as a NWWWS participant. Attendees that book under the group rate will also receive complimentary Wi-Fi in their guest room and $4 off the overnight valet-parking rate. Reservations for the hotel must be made by Oct. 16 in order to receive the group rate.
For more information on the symposium, visit: 4th National Working Waterfronts & Waterways Symposium.
