Page 57 - Coral Reef Teachers Guide

Coral Reef Teacher’s Guide Benefits, Threats, and Solutions

REEF RELIEF: PROTECTING NORTH AMERICA’S the Discover Coral Reefs School Program, signage,
ONLY CORAL BARRIER REEF documentary films, radio and television public
service announcements, and a small gift shop
Florida is home to the world’s 3rd longest coral featuring educational products for teachers and
barrier reef. It begins south of Miami, parallels books.
the landbase of the Florida Keys, and extends Water pollution is a great threat; corals need
67 miles southwest to the Dry Tortugas. Patch clear, clean, nutrient free waters to thrive. The
reefs extend north of Miami to the Palm Beach- group works with policymakers, media, educa-
es. Together with mangroves and seagrasses, this tors and citizens to increase support for im-
coral reef ecosystem provides habitat for one- proving water quality and it is a watchdog for
third of Florida’s threatened and endangered policies affecting the coral reef. Reef Relief ral-
species. Residents and visitors depend upon lied the community and helped stop plans for
the reefs for tourism, fishing, recreational ac- offshore oil exploration and development. In
tivities, an intrinsic wilderness experience and 1991, its founders were presented with a Point
protection from storm surge. of Light Award by George Bush who soon declared
As a result of the natural beauty of the area and the area off-limits to offshore oil. Reef Relief
convenient location, the Florida Keys is also was a major supporter of the effort to create the
the most heavily-visited coral reef in the world, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary includ-
the biggest dive destination, and as a result, ing the first Water Quality Protection Program
the coral reefs are amongst the most endan- of any sanctuary. Reef Relief has worked to
gered in the world. upgrade Florida Keys sewage and stormwater
Reef Relief is a nonprofit membership organiza- treatment systems to nutrient removal tertia-
tion dedicated to Preserve and Protect Living Coral ry treatment, led the effort to designate Florida
Reef Ecosystems through local, regional and internation- Keys waters as a No Discharge Zone for boater
al efforts. Reef Relief is focused exclusively on sewage, introduced a county-wide ban on phos-
saving coral reefs through direct action marine phate detergents, and promotes the removal of
projects, environmental education and policy harmful nitrogen from agricultural runoff from
guidance. It was founded by charterboat cap- the Everglades.
tain Craig Quirolo in 1987 and incorporated as Reef Relief established a Coral Nursery at West-
a Florida not for profit corporation in Key West, ern Sambo Reef in the Lower Keys that has sal-
Florida. vaged storm damaged corals, secured them to
The first effort was installation of reef mooring the ocean bottom and elevated so that they may
buoys to prevent anchor damage to the heav- survive. Sanctuary restoration staff used the
ily-visited coral reefs near Key West. Buoys fragments to restore a boat grounding site.
eliminate anchor damage by providing an easy Since 1993, Reef Relief’s founder Craig Quirolo
method of securing a boat at the reef with- has monitored reef health of many coral reefs
out damaging the fragile coral below. Reef Re- near Key West on a slide and video format that
lief protected Key West’s coral reefs from the has led to the discovery of several new diseas-
world’s largest fleet of charterboats by install- es. He collaborates with Reef Relief’s Scientific
ing and maintaining 116 mooring buoys at six Advisory Board comprised of leading coral reef
Key West-area coral reefs for a period of 10 scientists. The survey provides continuous reef
years. They are now part of the Florida Keys Na- health data invaluable in their studies of cor-
tional Marine Sanctuary Reef Mooring Buoy Action Plan. al disease and is incorporated into Reef Relief
Next came the Coral Reef Awareness Campaign, educational programs to keep the public in-
an effort to educate boaters, divers, fishermen, formed. The images are available on an online
and then residents, businesses, students and database at www.reefrelief.org that is currently
policymakers on how to protect coral reefs. Even being posted. The survey includes coral reefs in
casual contact with the reef from fins, hands Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, and the
or equipment can damage fragile coral polyps, Bahamas.
providing a toehold for disease or nuisance al- In partnership with the City of Key West, Reef Re-
gae that could result in the loss of an entire lief created the Key West Marine Park in 2003.
coralhead. Reef Relief maintains Reef World, an Located along the oceanside shore of Key West,
environmental education center in Key West it features several no- motor swim areas and
that introduces residents and visitors and access lanes for motorized vessels. Educational
others around the world of the benefits and signage and brochures help residents and visi-
methods of protecting coral reef ecosystems. tors enjoy the nearshore waters in a reef-friend-
A multi-media campaign includes an exten- ly way.
sive website at www.reefrelief.org, brochures,
special events such as Reef Awareness Week,

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