Last Update March 20, 2000 8:30pm est

Reef Relief won a cool science site award from the National Academy Press. We're in good company with NASA, NOAA, and Bill Nye, the Science guy.

The winter issue (Volume 12 number 1) of our newsletter:

is now online in our newsletter section.

We are pleased to announce that Reef Relief's Coral Reef Conservation Program received second place in the non-profit category for a Gulf Guardian Award 2000.

Since 1987, Reef Relief's Coral Reef Conservation Program has sought to improve water quality in the Florida Keys. The reefs of the Florida Keys are imperiled due in great part to poor water quality. Last year the program achieved two great successes: 1) a comprehensive, funded, advanced wastewater treatment program for Key West, and 2) official designation of Key West waters as a No Discharge Zone (NDZ) for boater sewage.

These successes will have a beneficial impact on the coral reef of the Florida Keys by eliminating the largest point source of pollution in the Keys - the Key West ocean outfall and add advanced wastewater treatment to strip out harmful nutrients from the sewage in an accelerated two year program that also includes replumbing all city streets. The Key West NDZ designation will reduce boater sewage discharges at the world's largest dive destination.

These successes were acheived with support and cooperation of the City of Key West, both the city commision and the voters, the Florida Governor's Office, the US Environmental Protection Agency, The Florida Keys National Marine Santuary (FKNMS), the US Coast Guard, and the Florida Marine Patrol. - noted Reef Relief Executive Director DeeVon Quirolo.

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- The Gulf of Mexico Program announced the winners of the first-ever 2000 Gulf Guardian Awards today. The winners will be honored at a special luncheon April 11, at the 4th Gulf of Mexico Symposium being held in Mobile, Ala., April 9-12.

"The Gulf Guardian Award is a great way for the Gulf of Mexico Program partnership to recognize and honor the businesses, community groups, individuals, and agencies who are taking positive steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful, and productive, said Jim Giattina, Gulf Program Director. "We knew there were people out there doing good things, but we were overwhelmed at the quality projects we've learned about during this first award program. The Gulf Guardian Award exemplifies what the Gulf of Mexico Program is all about -- innovative solutions that come about when we pool resources and look for creative ways to positively impact our quality of life and economic well-being."

There were a total of 53 award entries from all five Gulf Coast states – Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. A first, second, and third place winner is awarded in each of six categories: business, government, civic/nonprofit organizations, youth/education, partnerships, and individual.

"The numerical difference in selecting a first, second, or third place winner, and even those that didn’t make the top 18, was mere decimal points," said Giattina. "The projects were all impressive," he added.

For more information about the Gulf of Mexico Program's Gulf Guardian Award please contact Terry Hines Smith at (228) 688-1159.

Click here for more information about Reef Relief's Coral Reef Conservation Program

For more information about the Key West water quality issues be sure to view our current issue of the REEF LINE newsletter.

Chart available for new mooring buoys at Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas.

Reef mooring buoys have been installed at several popular coral reef sites near Green turtle Cay. Buoys eliminate anchor damage to fragile living corals by providing an easy alternative to dropping anchor. Coral Reefs are comprised of slow growing hard and soft corals that are actually living animals called coral polyps that can be crushed or damaged by anchors. When visiting the reef, be sure to avoid all other contact with the coral from fins, hands and dive equipment.

A new flyer called "How to use Reef Mooring Buoys" (click to download) with a map of Green Turtle Cay, Abacos, Bahamas, Reef Mooring Buoy sites is now available from Reef Relief in Adobe Acrobat format with the print layout intact. Along with the map is the name and a brief description of each location. GPS coordinates are provided as well.

The Green Turtle Cay Project was made possible through the support of the Green Turtle Cay Foundation, in cooperation with the Town of New Plymouth, the Edith & Curtis Munson Foundation, Linton's Cottages, Cape Air, and individual volunteers and contributors. Reef Relief installed the buoys as a community project. Reef Relief is a non-profit membership group dedicated to Preserve and Protect Living Coral Reef Ecosystems through local, regional, and international efforts.

This is an educational coloring book with text by marine biologist Bill Alevizon and illustrations by Ruth Rasche. The book features twenty colorful tropical reef fish, with the name and descriptive text for each fish accompanied by a large drawing to be colored. Each fish is illustrated in its natural colors on the back cover. If you haven't yet seen a reef, this book will give you a taste of our watery world. If you have been snorkeling or diving, this will help you remember and understand what you have seen beneath the sea. Printed with very large text for young readers. Paperback. 40 pp. $6.95.

WATER QUALITY ACTION ALERT: Key West beaches remain closed due to high levels of bacterial coliform in the water. The US EPA schedules a hearing on the current practice of injecting sewage into deep wells in South Florida. Your input is needed now to rectify these underground sources of pollution! Click here to check out the full text of our action alert.

• Reef Relief will integrate new scientific advances regarding coral reefs into our educational programs, our website and our teacher guides, including more hands on activities for educators.

• We will approach the Florida Sea Grant Program Extension Service to collaborate in encouraging those of us in the Florida Keys, and by example, people all over the world, to adopt ways to treat the land with respect through native gardening, avoiding the use of fertilizers, and xeriscaping because what we do on land affects our marine environment. Coral reefs are downstream of land based activities in the Florida Keys, and downstream of the Everglades. We all live downstream.

• Reef Relief Board Member Paul Johnson will lead an effort to expand our statewide activities to increase awareness and support for coral reef protection throughout Florida. Reef Relief will encourage advanced wastewater treatment for all sewage injected into deep (or shallow) wells, especially in South Florida based on the porous geology of the area and the documented lack of confinement of injected waste.

• We will, with the expertise of Dr. Bill Alevizon, expand our participation in reef fisheries issues. It is critical that reef fisheries are sustained and that rigorous science is applied to policymaking.

• We will create a Water Quality Action Kit that provides steps that can be taken to protect coral reefs from water quality decline. This will include information regarding the water quality crisis that has closed Key West beaches. Each newsletter will include specific things that we can do and this information will be added to the Reef Relief website.

• There are "Big Issues" that are undermining public confidence in a healthy environment; e.g., fossil fuel depletion and the abundance of plastics in our life. Reef Relief will focus on ways to PREVENT decline.

• Finally, Reef Relief will expand our work with the citizens of Green Turtle Cay and other communities in the Bahamas to launch coral reef conservation efforts that include educational programs, reef mooring buoy installations, marine protected areas and implementation of advanced wastewater treatment.

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