In 1986, REEF RELIEF was founded because of the need to protect Key West's living coral reefs from the physical damage that was being inflicted upon them by vessels anchoring in living coral. 117 reef mooring buoys were installed for public use and have been maintained by REEF RELIEF for almost 10 years, creating the largest privately-maintained reef mooring buoy program in the world. However, with the long-awaited implementation of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary management plan, REEF RELIEF has officially transferred the ownership and maintenance responsibility of these buoys to the sanctuary. For a multitude of reasons, including liability and the financial burden, it is only logical that all the buoys in the sanctuary be managed under one authority and that they become part of a comprehensive management plan to protect these coral reefs.
REEF RELIEF first learned about mooring buoys from the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary. Over the years, we have set the standard for mooring buoy maintenance and inspection, having provided a decade of accident-free mooring buoy usage at seven reefs near Key West. At least 250,000 vessels have safely moored at these reefs over the past 10 years, thereby eliminating substantial anchor damage. The strict set of standards implemented in our maintenance program was created to insure safe boating for the general public. We have used only the best of materials, never compromising integrity to save money. REEF RELIEF established the bench mark for using l inch line for the entire mooring system and for beefing up the anchoring design from a single hole Aeyebolt to double-holed AUbolt, which is now a standard for state of the art reef mooring buoys around the world. We were also the first to use a polydacron through line for the buoys, dramatically extending the life and integrity of that component and again setting a standard for integrity utilized world wide. We are proud of our past successes with the mooring buoy program and honored that the buoys are now part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Unfortunately, nowadays there is another more severe threat to our living coral reefs as diseases and coral mortality increases at an alarming rate. Saving our coral reefs is no longer as simple as installing and cleaning mooring buoys or educating divers and snorkelers not to stand on or touch coral. There is no longer a yellow warning light to caution us. We are looking smack dab at a red alert signal. Our reefs are endangered because of management decisions both upstream and nearshore of the reef, based upon political science and not real science. Unless action is taken immediately to improve water quality, we will be unable to reverse the current precipitous decline into the depths of eutrophication..We must all get involved in this effort now.
The Bay Islands of Honduras have some of the world's most beautiful coral reefs. The Guanaja Tourism Association approved the expenditure of visitor impact fee funds to install 30 permanent reef mooring buoys at Guanaja's coral reefs earlier this year. And now, they are available at popular dive sites at this small island off the coast of Honduras.
Project Manager Sandra Bazley. noted "We can all be proud of our efforts; this will protect our reefs no and into the future." Guanaja's coral reef ecosystem is the basis of the island's fishing and tourism economy. Keeping the coral reefs healthy and alive is a priority for everyone on the island. The creation of the Guanaja Marine Reserve is moving forward with this mooring project being the first in a series of planned strategies for marine conservation.
The installation of the buoys was a community event, with volunteer divers providing assistance and local resorts and other businesses donating boats, fuel , lodging, meals, and supplies. REEF RELIEF was commissioned to direct the project and provide the necessary equipment and training.
"I am very pleased to see the Guanaja Tourist Association take such an active role in coral reef protection," commented REEF RELIEF Founder and Director of Marine Projects Craig Quirolo. He headed up the project, with assistance from Educational Director DeeVon Quirolo. Local coordination was provided by Sandra Bazley. The components were ordered and shipped to Guanaja via Deep Reef Trading on the Caribbean Star. Everything was stored at Posada del Sol, where a boat and divers were provided.
Two types of permanent moorings were installed. First the mantas, anchor-like assemblies with a long rod, were jack hammered into areas of rubble bottom to which the line and float was attached. Next stainless steel U-bolts were installed in areas of hard fossilized bottom. A hydraulic drill was used to core out two holes and the stainless steel U-bolt was cemented into the ocean bottom. After allowing the cement to cure for a few days, the buoy down line, float, through-line and pick-up line was attached. The assembly of the float is accomplished by splicing the individual parts together in a manner that permits parts of it to be replaced as they wear out.
The REEF RELIEF representatives presented students from Savanna Bight and from Professor Ruth's Bay Islands Conservation Association Youth Program with a presentation on the coral reef and they then learned how to splice and prepare the buoy lines for the project. Students who had been certified to dive compliments of Posada del Sol assisted in the drilling operations at the reef. The project also involved special presentations to the crew and guests at Bayman Bay Resort and to a room full of local citizens in Savannah Bight, during which Professor Ruth of B.I.C.A. translated the presentations into Spanish . Professor Ruth will also be responsible for handling the reef-related video library that REEF RELIEF brought for the community.
The mooring buoys require a regular inspection and maintenance program to keep them in good working order. The dive operations of Bayman Bay Resort on the north side and Posada del Sol Resort on the south side of the island have agreed to share this responsibility. REEF RELIEF has agreed to set up a buoy fund to purchase buoy components, when needed. Contributions to the buoy fund are tax-deductible for United States contributors. You can sponsor a buoy for US $500 U.S. Additional expenses have resulted from the need to order more mantas than originally anticipated and standby buoys and line are needed. Contact the Guanaja Marine Reserve c/o (504) 54 44 43 or REEF RELIEF at (305) 294-3100) for further information.
The permanent buoys replace the Achokers that previously were used. An English/Spanish informational map/brochure containing information on the buoys, their location, the Guanaja Marine Reserve, the coral reef ecosystem, and tips for eco-friendly diving, boating and living is being prepared for distribution to all residents and visitors.
The Guanaja Tourism Association extends special thanks to the following for making this project possible: Sandra Bazley, Craig and DeeVon Quirolo of REEF RELIEF, Julian and Sandra Rensch, the Honduran Institute of Tourism, the staff and management of Posada del Sol and Bayman Bay Resorts, Deep Reef Trading--Caribbean Star, Roger Wood, Kevin McLain, Greg Park, Jim & Cathy Springer, Bo Bush, Dick Munroe, Ruth Humphrey-Taylor and the B.I.C.A.Young Peoples Program , Yovanny Bacca, Chris Calovini,the students from Savannah Bight, Arlo Hyde, Truman Tatum, Raymond Diez, Zapata and Sons. We couldn't have done it without you!
Water quality improvements are in the works, both locally and regionally for the Florida Keys. Locally, the county is implementing a state court order to eliminate illegal cesspits and it has created quite a storm amongst some of the targeted locals, who are threatened with expensive upgrades.
The Cesspit Debate
Unbelievable as it seems, this has generated a debate on whether sewage is harmful to the marine environment, proving that "denial" is not just a river in Egypt. Our approach has been to provide hard science, good reasoning, and help to interested community members. The REEF RELIEF Water Quality Action Kit is available to all, and a thick compendium of water quality studies has been provided to county officials and citizens. The Monroe County Citizens Task Force has convened and is trying to sort it all out and make recommendations. The county's search for funding has generated $4 million from the USEPA, but it will most likely go to the Marathon plant-to-be-built.
Come July, no new septic systems will be allowed, according to the court order. Aerobic systems will be allowed so injection well use may increase in the Keys. New legislation is being prepared by the Department of Health that sets the allowable nutrient load for sewage treatment according to volume of waste per site, with higher standards required of systems handling larger volumes. Meanwhile, a pilot program funded by the sanctuary to identify appropriate treatment alternatives is still underway, but preliminary results of these septic system retrofits do not meet nutrient-removal goals.
Injection Well Rule
REEF RELIEF has patiently waited for the state to enforce the rule change we sponsored a few years ago, establishing that the effluent from injection wells in the Keys must meet or exceed Outstanding Florida Waters criteria. The state is now enforcing the law by requiring that the wells be drilled to 90' and encased to 60'. This was the law prior to passage of our regulation and frankly, it doesn't do the job. Studies have shown that the effluent reaches coastal waters in a matter of hours. We would not support any legislation that would weaken this rule and do want ours enforced. DEP (otherwise known as Don't Expect Protection) is being investigated for such antics elsewhere in the state as a result of the work of PEER (a group of public employees disenchanted with the agency's lack of regulation over polluters).
Coral Diseases on the Rise
Meanwhile, at the US EPA Water Quality Protection Program Technical Advisory Meeting in November, Dr. Brian Lapointe presented his final report documenting that sewage nutrients are reaching Looe Key reef from homes on Big Pine Key.
The meeting became quite animated when EPA's Fred McManus released a report declaring that "Whether reported in terms of number of monitoring stations affected, the number of species affected, or the number of different diseases recorded, corals in the Keys are experiencing a marked increase in disease infections." The report when on to say that coral diseases have increased 275% in the Keys at 25 monitoring stations in 1996 and 94 stations in 1997. The number of coral species affected with disease increased 211%.
Members of the TAC were visibly upset by the release, although it went on to say that "It is not known whether the diseases are the result of a naturally occurring short-term event, or a human-induced degradation with more serious long-term ramifications." There is a lack of conviction here that Keys corals are seriously imperiled, despite numerous warning signals to the contrary (i.e. Dr. Lapointe's latest study).
The ironic part is that REEF RELIEF's Craig Quirolo has been documenting the presence of new coral diseases at our reefs for several years, and sharing his results with Drs. Porter and Santivay, both of whom are part of the EPA-funded Disease team. Porter declared that diseases had increased 1000% in the past year at the Annual REEF RELIEF Membership Meeting in July, 1997, a figure he downgraded to 545% a week later after reviewing additional sites, and then to the 275% after sorting it out with his EPA colleagues for their publication.
Porter is very concerned that we are losing our corals at a dramatic rate. But just recently, Porter and Quirolo were both interviewed on a National Public Radio show by Alex Chadwick on the subject of coral diseases, and Porter would not say that human-induced causes were impacting the reef. The scientists on the TAC are supposed to be advising the Steering Committee on policy-making for the Keys. Many are so reluctant to honestly consider our impact on the coral and support steps to reduce that impact that mere disclosure of the extent of coral disease in the Keys upsets them. Bravo to Dr. Porter for talking about it, even in such compromised terms and to Fred McManus for printing the report. TAC scientists should support such candor.
50th Anniversary of Everglades Park
As we celebrate the 50th Year of Everglades Park, the Florida Supreme Court has released a decision that the voter-approved "polluter pays" amendment means that the 1998 Legislature should get on with implementing the cleanup of agricultural runoff in the Everglades Agricultural Area and that the farmers must pay for it! Boy are we glad to hear that.....This business of simply increasing the flow of this dirty agricultural water from the Everglades into Florida Bay has done tremendous damage to our downstream coral reefs. This is truly cause for celebration, providing it is implemented.
Cayo Carnival the annual fundraising event for REEF RELIEF lived up to its image as the party of the year this past Saturday, November 15. The grounds of East Martello Garden were packed with supporters, with a crowd estimated at four thousand people. The event will net approximately forty-five thousand dollars in funding for REEF RELIEF programs. The weather cooperated and the evening air was filled with music from Clarence Clemons, Black Bean Soup, Chris Ardoin and the Double Clutchin Band, the Bohemian Swingers, and Paris and the Birds of Paradise.
"Our team of coordinators, volunteers, sponsors, and media worked especially hard to make this a very successful event; that's what makes Cayo such a unique and fun time --the community working together for a good cause and having fun doing it. So many people helped in so many ways--sponsors, volunteers, musicians, restaurants, beverage, raffle, and hotel contributors, Kid's Korner organizers--and we thank you all," noted Cayo Coordinator Barbara Wright.
Amongst the surprises during the evening was the arrival of several members of the Lone Star Parrot Head Club of Keller, Texas who presented a check for one thousand dollars. To that will be added the support of major sponsors Kelly's Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery, Bacardi Martini USA, and many others. Over two hundred volunteers donated time to serve food and beverages, sell raffle tickets and host the Kid's Korner during Cayo Carnival.
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico was the site of a working conference organized by the University of Puerto Rico Sea Grant Program, Barbara Ornitz and a host of others this past November 6--8, 1997. This event celebrated the International Year of the Reef by identifying real-life actions that can be taken to protect Puerto Rico's coral reefs and follow-up efforts to implement them.
Puerto Rico is home to fifty-four species of corals; green, hawksbill, leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles; and nineteen species of marine birds. Coastal tourism and commercial fishing industries depend upon a healthy marine environment. A central mountain range runs east to west, creating a lush environment in the north and subtropical dry forests to the south. The Caribbean Sea washes the southern coast, creating coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses. The north coast is exposed to the wind and waves of the Atlantic Ocean, and is characterized by bays and long white beaches. To the east lie the islands of Viegues, Culebra and Culebrita and to the west, Mona and Monito--all areas of tremendous natural beauty and coral reefs.
On the mainland, over 75% of Puerto Rico's mangroves have been removed and hurricanes have done significant damage to coastal areas. Sedimentation, algal overgrowth and siltation has resulted from development of industrial ports, housing and petro-chemical complexes. Sugar plantations generate agricultural runoff and heavy ship traffic has resulted in oil pollution and spills. Viegues is still used as a U.S. Navy explosives testing area.
The conference included attendees from government, the private sector and business who broke into working groups that addressed the subjects of Oil, Harbor Access and Vessel Problems; Community-based Ecological Monitoring & Educational Outreach; Sustainable Tourism Practices for Island Environments; and Fisheries, Marine Reserves and Marine Protected Areas.
REEF RELIEF's DeeVon Quirolo participated in the conference and helped guide the Sustainable Tourism Practises group. Each group developed recommendations for action that were adopted by the plenary at the conference conclusion, and an executive summary was created for presentation to key government representatives and other relevant parties. Sea Grant was designated as the agency to help guide implementation of the recommendations.
"Our group recommended that marine protected areas be strengthened with funding for protection and enforcement generated through user permits and co-management with local communities; that the Planning Board and other agencies establish and implement specific standards for sustainable tourism development to replace current fast track permits; that the Coastal Zone Management Plan be passed by the legislature; and that guidelines for wise use of the coral reef ecosystem be developed and their adoption and use be encouraged by watersport operators and recreational users," noted DeeVon.
REEF RELIEF's Craig Quirolo returned once again to Jamaica in November along with Dr. Brian Lapointe (Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute) and Dr. Peter Bell (Low Isles Marine Lab, Australia). Their mission was to help the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society (NCRPS) implement a water quality monitoring program for the coral reefs of Negril. Lapointe and Bell set up a laboratory and trained NCRPS Reef Rangers to begin a regular water quality sampling regimen. Quirolo documented the process on slide and video and has produced reports for the NCRPS to distribute to the community to keep them abreast of conditions at the reef. Local fishermen were particularly interested in their results.
Then, in December, Quirolo returned to Negril again, joining Dr. James Porter and his wife, Dr. Karen Porter (both of University of Georgia). Their mission was to set up transects for video monitoring of Negril's coral reefs based on the protocol developed in the Florida Keys, where James heads up the Coral Reef/Hardbottom and Coral Disease studies funded by the US EPA's Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Water Quality Protection Program.
The monitoring and water quality analysis in Jamaica is part of ongoing efforts to establish the Negril Marine Park. Funding for the project was provided by the European Economic Community, thanks in great part to the hard work of NCRPS Executive Director Katy Thacker, who has led the community-based effort that includes installation of mooring buoys, Reef Ranger educational patrols, establishment of swimmer's lanes for zoned management, Junior Ranger school programs, community clean-ups, and numerous other projects over the past few years.
In a strange twist of politics, Jamaican authorities designated the Negril area a protected watershed with authority for its care delegated to NEPT, a US AID-funded organization. As yet, despite many letters of support from around the Caribbean, NCRPS has been unable to convince Jamaican officials (who stand to benefit directly from USAID funding) that the community-based efforts of the local NCRPS should be recognized as the authority in charge of the Marine Park. At a recent NCRPS workshop entitled "The Negril Marine Park: On Stream, In force and Enforced", 70 individuals combined efforts to present a draft management plan and operations plans for the Marine Park and the NEPT Executive Director recognized NCRPS's role as the management body for the Marine Park. Without this designation, the NCRPS will not qualify for additional European funding, yet who could be more qualified based on their track record? It's strange the way our government seems to hurt, not help grassroots efforts.
Action Alert Write to: The Honorable Easton Douglas, Jamaican Minister of the Environment & Housing, 2 Hagley Park Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica, West Indies. Ask him to immediately issue a declaration forming the Negril Marine Park with the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society as the local authority for implementation.
Monday June 23rd, watching Key West disappear into the gathering dusk, I think of the Underseas World of Jacques Cousteau specials that mesmerized me as a child. We are on Reef Relief founders' Craig and DeeVon Quirolo's sailboat Stormy Weather and we are headed for Cuba. Throughout the night as we cross the Gulfstream, watchful for tankers and other sailboat crushing ships, we hallucinate brine encrusted Balseros bobbing on the deep blue. A storm petrel alights on the bow rail and stays until dawn. The sea out here is muscular and unforgiving. I think about our origins in this diatomaceous soup and the allegiance all living creatures owe it. El mar es sin fronteras. The sea is without boundaries. In both languages, this will become a mantra over the next two weeks.
Our voyage has been federally permitted as a preliminary research trip to examine and document the condition of Cuba's coral reef ecosystems. Reef Relief's new mission includes outreach throughout the Caribbean to assess coral health and assist local groups in developing their own protection and monitoring programs. This work represents part of a global effort during the International Year of the Reef to conduct rapid assessments of the earth's coral reef ecosystems, the "rainforests of the sea" which function as indicators of the overall health of the ocean.
In the previous year, ichthyologists from Cuba's Institute of Oceanography, Technical Science and Environment had visited Key West to perform baseline fish counts to confirm the conclusions of their research in Cuba. As a result of the patterns of ocean currents, the larval spawning cycles of fish, corals and lobsters in Cuba are closely linked to the productivity of fisheries in south Florida.
Reef Relief was able to facilitate the Cuban scientists' work in the Keys, describing local conditions and explaining the impacts that have affected our marine ecosystems (excessive development, the flooding of Florida Bay, sewage and tourism) which have been studied by US scientists trying to sort out the causal relationships between human activity and coral reef decline. As a result of the mutual desire to understand and protect marine resources, a common bond for future cooperative efforts was forged between Reef Relief and the Institute. In contrast to the Keys, the relative lack of development and overpopulation in Cuba heightened our hopes of documenting healthy coral reefs, of finding a clean "baseline" against which ailing corals could be measured. We would dive in two different regions, one on the North Central coast in the Archipelago of Camaguey at Cayo Coco, the other near Cuba's southwestern tip at Maria La Gorda, adjacent to the Pinar del Rio biosphere preserve.
Before the end of the first day, we realized that Cuba is a country of contradictions, where patience ingenuity, toilet paper and a sense of humor are prerequisite. Our guide for the week, fisheries and marine ecosystem conservation specialist Dr. Juan Pablo Garcia, welcomed us at the Institute and quickly made a joke about a senior researcher's car which had expired in the parking lot and sat in a state of advanced decay that would have put to shame the most disreputable "conch cruiser".
A tour of the Institute revealed scientists crunching data on aging computers, coping with paper shortages, broken windows and balky telephones. Only the new equipment in the pollution research division benefited from air conditioning. The friendliness and openness with which we were greeted was to become a hallmark of our trip. Everywhere we traveled, people countered the problems, shortages and difficulties with ingenuity and the largeness of their hearts. Less became more.
We later learned that a chronic shortage of automobiles and boats made fieldwork difficult to accomplish. Our trip would provide one of the infrequent opportunities for a Havana scientist to visit the Institute's distant field lab at Cayo Coco.
The Cuban countryside unfolded before us the next day. Unlike US interstate highways, Cuba's Autopista is not autocentric. Cars remain the minority, with bicyclists, ox-drawn carts, horseback riders, farmers threshing grain and numerous hitchhikers sharing the road. On the shoulders men and women stood proffering long braids of garlic and onions, mangoes, avocados and slabs of white cheese for sale. The land, dotted with massive Ceiba trees, cattle and small farms rolled away like a deep green ocean. Missing were the ugly billboards, landfills and massive powerlines that deface Florida's landscape. But Soviet trucks, decrepit buses and ancient American cars belching black smoke created a distinctive environmental hazard we would later dub "the inside of the cigar".
One of a chain of coral rock barrier islands, the 370 sq. km. Cayo Coco is separated from the mainland by the Bahia De Perros (Bay of Dogs). In 1988 a 27 km (16.7 mile) long causeway was built on solid fill across the Bay to facilitate tourist access. Cubans, unless they work on the island, are denied entry. What was once a shallow mangrove lined estuary filled with flamingos and pelicans has been turned into a hypersaline wasteland dotted with dying mangroves and deprived of tidal water flows. The few culverts placed under the solid causeway as a corrective measure appear unable to compensate for the massive reduction in tidal flushing. Juan Pablo was visibly alarmed by the ecosystem's decline since his last visit.
A huge tourist resort had been built directly on the dunes in front of the Institute. As we traveled during our stay we saw several new hotels and access roads under construction. Piles of fill were ubiquitous, unceremoniously plopped in the middle of mangrove wetlands. In an all too familiar scenario, the scientists and ecologists at Cayo Coco were running a footrace against the economic forces of tourism and development, trying to gather enough evidence to convince their government that unbridled construction will kill the goose that lays the golden egg. We felt like fortune tellers peering into the crystal ball of our own past.
Our first nearshore snorkel dive at Cayo Coco confirms our worst fears. The seagrass and patchy corals are covered in sediment. The water has the translucent milky lime color that derives from excess runoff and algal overgrowth. We are told that a eutrophic inshore lagoon empties out nearby; that the lagoon's discharge and wave turbulence account for the water's condition. I look at Craig and DeeVon who are shaking their heads in disbelief. The next day we snorkel at Playa Flamingo on Cayo Guillermo, the westernmost island of the archipelago. It is more isolated but the tour bus parked in the sand and the beach front concession, in spite of its thatched roof, signal what the future holds.
Because of the shortage of boats we are towed on a paddle boat by a jetski to a patch reef about a half mile offshore in twelve feet of water. For the first time in many years I see a bottom bristling with live staghorn coral. Visibility is over 100 ft. Much of the coral is golden brown with the glow of living polyps. Once upon a time Keys waters looked like this. But there is evidence of trouble here too.
Although elkhorn grows in thick stands, the human impacts are obvious: entire racks have been overturned, many branches broken off and the top of the reef has been flattened and bleached by divers standing on it. Boats anchor by wrapping choke lines around big coral heads. The purple sea fans exhibit the browning and fungal slime characteristic of their demise. Of the seven coral diseases identified in the Florida Keys, Craig finds four. Everyone inspects a small brain coral infected with black band; the Cuban scientists study it intently and talk afterwards to the local divers about what we have seen.
Later in the day Craig and DeeVon will give a lecture at the Institute describing coral diseases and the condition of the reefs in Florida. They also talk about the relationships between tourism, the dive industry and the health of marine resources and about the necessity for education and the cooperative participation of everyone. A slide show of sick corals is derailed by a broken projector but color photocopies showing examples of white pox, black band and yellow band / blotch and white plague type II are passed around. Local dive masters as well as students and researchers from the Institute are in attendance. One dive master looks at the copies and mouths the words "I have seen these here." The same dive master will take us on our last dive at Cayo Coco, an offshore reef 40 feet deep. Massive towers of eroded boulder corals greet us, surrounded by gorgonians and iridescent tube sponges. This reef's corals are diverse, but not exempt: there is a heavy overgrowth of algae covering them.
Back in the boat someone asks Craig, "Well what do you think?" "Not good." He has taken photos of algae spewing out of rocks, potentially indicating an upwelling of nutrient laden waters. "The Siderastria sideria disease is here." This rapidly progressing white blotching affliction of star corals had only recently appeared in the Keys. It is a shock to find it in Cuba. The discoveries of each dive have been documented with numerous still photos.
After the disheartening finds at Cayo Coco, we pin our hopes on undeveloped Maria La Gorda, shielded from human impacts on the landward side by the deep forests of the biosphere preserve. Two days later, within minutes of descent, our hopes are dashed. The reef is covered in Halimeda algae and like the reefs of Cayo Coco, its fisheries are depleted of commercial species. The divemasters talk at length about the changes they have observed and ask for more information to identify the problems.
Like a canary in a coalmine, the conditions of the reef at Maria La Gorda can be understood to imply a widespread degradation of Caribbean waters; to imply that distant pollution and nutrient sources are not neutralized by dilution in the oceans currents; to imply that the ocean's capacity to clean itself is being exceeded. One can point an accusing finger at the unbelievable black oily sludge mixed with raw sewage pouring out of Havana Harbor, the second most polluted in the world; at the oil wells, refineries and chemical plants lining the perimeter of the Gulf of Mexico; at the runoff from South America; at all the Caribbean nations that use the ocean as a dumping ground for sewage, for trash and for industrial disposal.
Ultimately we end up pointing the finger at ourselves: in the 1960's Cousteau alarmed the world when he showed footage of Calypso's crew plucking tarballs out of the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. How could the whole thing be dirty? Thirty years later we have yet to act together in such a way that addresses the reality of the world's oceans as a single body of water. The cooperation of scientists, governments, conservation groups and individuals in conducting research and sharing information locally, regionally and internationally is critical if we are to understand what is sickening earth's seas and to develop programs for their recovery.
After returning to Havana, Reef Relief sat down with lead scientists and the Institute and drew up a three year project proposal for the rapid assessment and mapping of Cuba's major coral reefs. Pending both US and Cuban government approval, the project will create a win-win situation. Cuban scientists will gain a basic database inventory of their reef tracts and lay the groundwork for more comprehensive long term research and remediation. For American researchers, information about of Cuba's reefs will fill in data gaps and provide for valuable comparison between two parallel Caribbean reef ecosystems affected by differing levels of development, use, management and other land based variables.
With educational, mooring buoy and research projects currently in place in Negril, Jamaica and planned for Puerto Rico and the Bay Islands, Reef Relief's Caribbean outreach is well underway. In working with this group I am constantly reminded that it is through our own efforts that we make a difference. Persistent, informed, honest actions, like the large hearts of the Cuban people, speak a language capable of transcending boundaries. El mar es sin fronteras.
Photograph of Simposub Dive Symposium in Havana in July 1997
The Restoration Advisory Board of NASKW, a liaison of environmental contractors and military and community representatives overseeing the cleanup of polluted military properties in the lower Keys is currently reviewing two important Boca Chica sites.
The sites consist of a large mixed waste dump and burn area, SWMU( Solid Waste Management Unit) 1, adjacent to Old Boca Chica Road near Geiger Creek and a former DDT mixing area, SWMU 2. Both sites were heavily impacted with pollutants and as a result of their priority status underwent interim remedial cleanup actions in 1996. 7,400 tons of contaminated soil and sediment were excavated from SWMU 1, including 71 tons treated as hazardous waste due to lead levels. 2471 tons of pesticide laden soils were removed from SWMU 2. Both cleanups significantly reduced, but did not eliminate levels of potentially hazardous contaminants at the sites.
As a result of the residual contaminants, the sites have been subject to Corrective Measure Studies conducted by the environmental engineering firm Brown and Root. The CMS studies first assess the amount of remaining pollutants at the sites and the potential risk they pose to people or the environment. They each then describe and evaluate four action alternatives for further site cleanup and monitoring based on degrees of acceptable risk and program costs. The alternatives range from leaving the sites in their present condition with some "hot spots" that exceed industrial risk standards, to completely removing all contamination sources at each site to bring them into compliance with the most conservative standards protective of human and environmental health.
Each site's CMS recommended Alternative Two, "Limited Action". This is a monitoring alternative which takes no further steps to reduce or contain contaminants. This alternative was chosen based on the concept that, as a result of the excavations which have already taken place, the levels of remaining pollutants and "hot spots" present a controllable risk, likely to diminish over time, that can be minimized by restricting site access. Also, continued monitoring and testing of the sites at regular intervals would detect any migration or magnification of pollutants, in which case more conservative measures could be implemented.
From an environmental perspective there are several problems with the limited action alternative. Although it implements a reduction in human exposure risks through education and by restricting site access, it doesn't provide for the protection of environmental receptors such as plants, fish, birds or other wildlife. Unlike risk data for human exposure to chemicals, which has been accumulated through medical records and numerous institutional studies, exposure risk factors for wildlife, plants and for exotic receptors such as corals are poorly documented and understood. In addition, other aspects of exposure that increase risk such as the bioaccumulation of chemicals and the synergistic effects of multiple chemical exposures aren't quantified at all for environmental receptors.
Lacking adequate data to accurately estimate a safe exposure, it would seem prudent to err on the side of the most environmentally conservative cleanup goals, especially when considering that that these two Boca Chica sites are directly inshore from FKNM Sanctuary replenishment zone. Likewise, insofar as the marine habitat of the Keys has been designated an "Outstanding Florida Water", every effort should be made to eliminate any potential degradation of that water. Exposure levels for contaminants need to be even more conservative than the standard threshold limits for marine pollutants. This is particularly important in view of the fact that, like risk data for wildlife, federal and state criteria for acceptable levels of man-made pollutants in seawater remain incomplete. They fail to include many chemicals of concern routinely restricted in potable water to protect human health.
Alternative Two also assumes that by and large, contaminated soil and sediment will stay in place. This overlooks the possibility of a hurricane related storm surge impacting either site and spreading the contaminants throughout the environment, increasing their bio-availability and severely decreasing the likelihood of ever adequately containing and remediating them.
Although the CMS states that in order to perform the more conservative cleanup actions described in Alternatives 3 and 4 wetland and mangrove habitats would have to be excavated and destroyed, it also notes that the area would quickly re-vegetate after the excavations were completed. The benefits of eliminating the long term risks of residual contamination would seem to outweigh the short term risk of temporary habitat destruction, especially if remedial actions took place outside of the usual breeding periods of affected species.
Based on the data contained in the CMS documents, Reef Relief's executive committee has voted unanimously to recommend through the RAB, that NASKW consider implementing more conservative cleanup strategies designed to offer the most thorough protection of human and environmental health over the long term.
Alternative Three, involving a cleanup of affected soil and sediment 'hotspots' to acceptable industrial (as opposed to the more stringent residential) exposure limits represents the minimum acceptable remediation level for protection of marine and terrestrial habitat. This alternative would involve the removal of 500 cu. yds. of soil at SWMU 1 and 400 cu. yds of soil, 470 cu. yds of sediment and the treatment of 237,000 gallons of surface water at SWMU 2.
The preferred conservation goal would be Alternative Four, involving additional testing and comprehensive excavation of remaining contaminants to achieve the highest level of human health and environmental protection. At SWMU 1, 5,100 cu yds of soil and 10,400 cu yds of sediment would be excavated while at SWMU 2 the amount of additional soil removed would increase to 4,400 cu. yds. Monitoring at the sites would be continued to ensure that all contaminants had been removed. The costs for this alternative are much higher, yet it would substantially reduce the possibility of any future pollution or liability problems at the sites, ensure compliance with environmental laws and offer the best protection of our natural resources.
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary finally officially implemented its final management plan on July 1, 1997. The significance of this long awaited event, taking place during the International Year of the Reef cannot be understated. The sanctuary management plan is the first marine zoning plan of its size in the United States. Reef Relief has been involved in the process from its infancy and we are pleased that the years of work has at last been implemented.
If you been boating within the sanctuary you will have certainly noticed the most obvious change since the implementation, the large yellow buoys which were placed to warn boaters that they are within or near certain special protected zones. The 30" buoys mark the boundaries of the zones. Each of the smaller zone's corners are marked with yellow boundary buoys which create imaginary lines marking the zone boundary. The larger zones may have more buoys making the boundary lines easier to comprehend.
The zones within the Sanctuary include Ecological Reserves (ERs), Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs), Existing Management Areas (EMAs) and Special Use Areas.
Three of these zones (SPAs, ERs and Special-Use Areas) are "no take", meaning: no fishing, no lobstering, no shell collecting, no removal or harvesting of any marine life by any means. These three zones are marked by the yellow buoys.
Ecological Reserves are designed to protect and enhance the spawning, nursery, or permanent homes of marine life. Western Sambos is an ER.
18 small Sanctuary Preservation Areas were created to protect shallow, heavily visited reefs. The SPAs include Carysfort, The Elbow, Key Largo Dry Rocks, Grecian Rocks, French Reef, Molasses Reef, Conch Reef, Hen and Chickens, Davis Reef, Cheeca Rocks, Alligator Reef, Coffins Patch, Sombrero Key, Newfound Harbor Key, Looe Key, Eastern Dry Rocks, Rock Key and Sand Key. Catch and release fishing by trolling is allowed only at Conch Reef, Alligator Reef, Sombrero Reef, and Sand Key. Bait fishing is allowed in the SPAs only with a permit available through the Sanctuary offices.
There are 27 Wildlife Management Areas within the Sanctuary. Most of these fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) , but Sanctuary regulations that complement the existing USFWS rules have been established. These include public access restrictions, idle speed only, no access buffer, no motor and limited closures.
Existing Management Areas such as Looe Key, the Great White Heron and Key West National Wildlife Refuges as well as preexisting Aquatic Preserves and State Parks retain their existing management plans and are complemented by Sanctuary regulations.
Special Use Areas have been set aside for research only. There are four such areas located at Conch Reef, Tennessee Reef, Looe Key (patch reef), and Eastern Sambos. These areas are off limits to anyone not authorized with a valid research permit and are well marked as "research only" on the yellow buoys in 3" black letters.
The new zones have been quite successful to date, only a very few instances of people using the yellow buoys as moorings which is strictly forbidden. Otherwise boaters have been conscious of the new zones and the buoys have worked well. If you need more information on the management plan, zones, buoys or other Sanctuary related items you can contact their office directly or call Reef Relief.
All of us would like to thank Amy Van Kooten-Bonke for her excellent work as store manager for Reef Relief's Environmental Center & Store. Amy has gone to Meadowlands, New Jersey, with her husband, Oliver. All the best to you, Oliver, in your career at the Sheraton and Amy, thank you for everything you have done for us. We'll miss you!
And now we'd like to announce our new store manager, Barbara Blackmore. Barbara, like all Key Wester's has had a varied career that includes much retail experience. Barbara also has a deep commitment to environment. Barbara has added a new line of products from fish candles to mouse pads all with environmental themes. Barbara also designed a new store catalog so you can have the pleasure of shopping for Reef Relief products at home. When you visit our store, I know you'll enjoy the Reef Relief experience and meeting Barbara. So welcome, Barbara!
The Center has been very busy. As most of you know, the Reef Relief Environmental Center & Store offers environmentally friendly products with all proceeds going to Reef Relief's efforts to save living coral reefs; it also offers non-stop videos for viewing, free educational materials, displays explaining the coral reef eco-system. Also any individual or group that wants to can have a presentation given by a coal reef expert.
This summer and early fall the Center received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Florida 4-H Club for a presentation we gave. The Center & Store also had visits including a wonderful group of children from Key West's Buccaneer's Club, several visits from groups of students from Sea Camp, in Big Pine Key, and a group geologists and engineers from the EPA-Atlantic Division. A good time was had by all.
Additionally, interviews and phone-in presentations were given to schools, colleges and universities from Boca Raton High School, Boston College, to Oklahoma University were given. Public service announcements from water quality campaigns to a series of ads describing the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAS) as well as Sanctuary rules and regulations were produced and aired on all radio stations, Keys-wide. A big thanks to all Keys stations for your cooperation and generous donation of air time for our public service announcements and a special thanks to Jimmy Music of PIK'N for use of your production studios.
Last year Reef Relief sent out over 2,000 Teacher Kits to schools, clubs, universities and colleges around the country. Judging from the start of the new school year's requests, this year we'll eclipse that number. Additionally Water Quality Kits, Florida Keys Wetlands Posters and general information requests were and are routinely sent out each week to many individuals.
THE REEF RELIEF WEB SITE
Our Web Page is progressing nicely. You now can visit our Mangrove Section, our Wetlands Section, and Seagrass Section -all with text and pictures. If you want to be kept abreast of latest happenings you can click on our What's New Section. If you want to have your voice heard in crucial environmental issues, you can visit our Action Alert Section and, either through e-mail petitions or by downloading hard copy, you can express your point of view to policy makers. But to my mind the most striking section is our Coral Disease Section. In it you will have described and you will be able to actually see in striking photographs the many diseases that are ravaging living corals. This section was made possible by our Director of Marine Projects, Craig Quirolo.
Many thanks to you Craig, and to Alison Alpert from Assistech at http://www.assist-net.com/ for her wonderful work upkeeping, designing and updating of our page. Also we would like to give special thanks to, Harry Subacz and the board of directors at the excellent web service, Minverva Network Systems at http://www.minverva.net/, for hosting our web page for free! To all of you in this immense project, thank you all so much for your caring and concern about our living coral reefs.
As Project Coordinator for Reef Relief, part of my job involves trying to reach the broadest possible audience with news of how to protect the coral reef, and of Reef Relief projects to further this goal. This translates into taking advantage of every opportunity to get the message out and it has lead to a wide array of activities which keep me and my core of excellent volunteers busy. I have tried to expand our outreach as much as possible, often trying to reach new audiences which may have been overlooked in the past.
One of the better opportunities to reach people has come via my appointment to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Education Advisory Steering Committee. I was appointed to represent local conservation organizations. This involves meeting with representatives of the environmental community in Monroe County to determine the goals that we would like to see the FKNMS incorporate into their educational plan. I then take these ideas before the steering committee where they are discussed and (hopefully) incorporated. We meet about once a month and anyone who is interested in attending or who has any suggestions for the direction you would like to see the FKNMS education plan take, please contact me.
The target audience for the FKNMS educational activities is very broad. Everyone is included whether they are locals, visitors, students, user groups etc. Reef Relief is also involved in a much more focused outreach as a member of the Monroe County Environmental Education Advisory Council (MCEEAC). This is a group of Monroe County environmentalists and educators who work closely with the local school system to ensure that environmental education is stressed in the curriculums of Monroe County Schools. They are also responsible for the wonderful book, The Monroe County Environmental Story, which is currently being revised and updated, including articles on debris and oil from Reef Relief. The MCEEAC meets every month and often hosts teacher workshops and other worthwhile educational endeavors.
Another great program that I am involved with locally is the Key West High School Real Team. This wonderful program is designed to give the students some career insight by having members of the community work with students to educate them as to the different career paths which are available. I go into the high school and give career presentations to students about environmental career opportunities. So far, the students have been extremely interested. Kudos to Anika Lomba and all the Real Team staff at KWHS for this program. This is Reef Relief's first year with the program but already I hope to expand our involvement next year.
In addition to a number of ongoing activities, Reef Relief has also been expanding its outreach in the community by setting up informational tables at a wide variety of special events throughout South Florida. This takes a lot of work to accomplish and it couldn't be done without committed volunteers.
I will try to list some of the recently past and future events at which we have had a presence. They include The Key West Beer & Blues Fest, Rick's Lobsterfest, the Womenfest Street Fair, Reef Nite at the University of Miami, the WAVK Kids Day Show in Marathon, Florida Association of Science Teachers conference, Fantasy Fest Children's Day '97, Broward Environmental Fair and the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square.
Upcoming we have the Everglades 50th anniversary celebration, the Dive Equipment Manufacturers Association (DEMA) convention and various International Year of the Reef (IYOR) activities. As 1997 winds to a close we are pleased to look back at a successful IYOR. 1998 has already been designated as International Year of the Ocean and I expect that we will be active participants.
Each event takes a number of volunteers but I would like to thank a few of the most dedicated including, Jody Weber, John Cornwell, Kerry & Bruce Darby, Jerry Daigle, Harry Powell, Leslie Gabay, Jacqueline Harrington, Bill Blades, Marika Blades, Brian Martin, Andrea Comstock, Dianne Rosati, India Weber, Amy Horst, J.D. Metler, Kenny & Susan Esposito, David Sampson, Rebecca Provost, Donnie & Heidi Golightly, Becky Dallmeyer and Stacey Mitchell. If I missed you, please forgive me. If you are interested in helping during future events or know of one you think Reef Relief should participate in, please call.
We would also like to thank Dianne Zolotow at the Lucky Street Gallery and artist Thomas Mann for selecting Reef Relief as the beneficiary of the OXIDATION/BURIAL project. This project involves exposing a series of boxes filled with artwork from various artists to the effects of nature. The Key West box will be submerged in the Atlantic for the next five years and upon removal will be sold with the proceeds benefiting Reef Relief. For more information visit the artist's Website at http://www.thomasmann.com/.
A proposal by Chevron to drill at least 12 gas-producing wells 25 miles off the coast of Pensacola is undergoing a 2-year federal review. Chevron test wells struck gas and the company believes it can extract 300 to 400 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from its leases, making it 18% of the company's current production. Meanwhile, Mobil Oil has abandoned its plants to drill in the same area. Gulf Coast Environmental Defense president Enid Susskin promises to challenge the plan "every step of the way." Public hearings have yet to be scheduled, but we'll keep you tuned.
The recent proposal of the federal military to test Hera missiles in the Florida Keys may not happen, according to recent reports from General Lester Lyles of the Department of Defense. He has determined that the Keys is a heavily populated place and that it would be quite expensive to perform the tests here. "Of course, he did take environmental concerns into account," added Lt. Col. Rick Lehner. Thank you to all of you who wrote to oppose this silly idea. We will continue to collect petitions against the idea here at REEF RELIEF until the Keys have been definitively removed from the potential list of sites.
As happens each year, Marva Green and the wonderful team at Kemp and Green Accountants prepare our annual financial statement and nonprofit tax return. This year's figures reflect that income increased from last year. Much of this is donated goods and facilities such as the Environmental Center headquarters and boat dockage that is donated by the City of Key West and the new computer system from William Kemp that made possible our new website. Dave Patterson made his annual visit to REEF RELIEF and donated a Garmin G.P.S.--just at a time when we really needed one! What an angel.
The Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation has provided second-year support for the Coral Reef Conservation Program: Creating a Sustainable Florida Keys-that includes our ongoing environmental outreach, education and advocacy to increase awareness and improve water quality for all residents and visitors to the Keys. This year, the Jimmy Buffett Foundation is also supporting this program and we are very grateful to Judith Ranger, Sunshine Smith and Jimmy Buffett for making this possible. We have been able to produce and distribute a variety of educational brochures, water quality action kits, produce and air public service announcements, as well as participate in water quality planning and weigh in on many other reef issues because of this funding. Thanks to the initiative of Barbara Spano, a promotion for Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and the Honor Card has generated funding for the educational program as well.. Dr Pete Kalla of the USEPA made it possible to create the Florida Keys Wetlands poster that describes the wetlands that are home to so much life. Environmental Circus owner Theron Lyda supports publication of this newsletter and even helps distribute them at his Duval Street location! The team that makes Reef Awareness Week possible, especially main sponsor American Express is most appreciated.
As you can see from the pie charts, most of our income is dedicated to program expenses. We try to get the very most from each dollar spent. The lion's share goes to education, followed by Marine Projects that include the Coral Survey led by Craig Quirolo and funded by the Turner Foundation, Edith & Curtis Munson Foundation, Orchard Foundation and Richard Lounsbery Foundation The Henry Foundation came through with essential funding to create the digital computer lab that enables Craig to archive, sort and share all the coral survey work with scientists, the public and media.
We once again completed the annual reprint of the Florida's Coral Reef Ecosystem, our key educational brochure for incoming visitors. We were able to redesign it with the help of American Express and print upwards of 250,000 copies with the help of William Kemp, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, West Marine, the Key West Hotel Motel Association and Cheeca Lodge. It has been distributed twice throughout the Keys and supplies will last until spring, when we will once again seek support for another supply of these important brochures. DeeVon Quirolo donated the expense of sending out a REEF RELIEF brochure printed by Bill Kight to over 90,000 potential visitors inquiring into visiting Key West this past year as well as thousands of targeted American Express cardholders. The flyer was inserted into the envelops that contain the Key West Island Guide that DeeVon publishes as Key Exposure.
The mooring buoy project cost more this past year than previous years, due to increased losses of buoys from intensive use, heavy weather and some careless boat operators at the reef. Special thanks to the Marine & Port Advisory Committee and Monroe County Commissioners who allocated Boating Improvement Funds for the buoys. That was supplemented by regular donations from the Fury Catamaran Fleet, thanks to owner Peter Norquoy. The new West Marine-funded brochure on the Key West Reef Mooring Buoys provides tips for approaching and using the buoys and has been intensively distributed to all private and commercial boating interests in Key West.
Thanks to the generous donation of time by Carol Colburn, bookkeeping was a donated service that helped keep down the Administration expenses last year. Thank you Carol for all your good work and good luck in your new position with the Key West Innkeepers Association.
General support from the George Storer Foundation, Publix Charities, and the members of REEF RELIEF have kept us going! Wyland donated the proceeds from his magical art once again and we are very grateful for his continuing support. Thank you all.
International program expenses were kept to a minimum by the donations of Theron Lyda, Robin Orlandi, Craig and DeeVon Quirolo who covered all expenses for their sail to Cuba and coral reef survey this past summer.The Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society has funded Craig's continuing work at the reefs of Negril, Jamaica. The latest Guanaja buoy project was funded by Guanaja, Bay Is., Honduras Tourist Impact fees, thanks to the Tourism Association there.
What is not readily identified are all the incredible volunteer hours and individual donations made by so many of you over the year that really comprise the core of REEF RELIEF as a grassroots organization. Many of you continue to do your part for REEF RELIEF and we appreciate you very much. It makes it all possible.
| Foundations | 41% |
| Contributions | 18% |
| Special Events | 6% |
| Donated Goods & Facilities | 11% |
| Memberships | 3% |
| Government Grants | 15% |
| Sales | 6% |
Expenditures Total: $268,642
| Mooring Buoy Program | 14% |
| Marine Projects (Coral Survey) | 20% |
| Coral Reef Conservation Program (Education & Water Quality) | 45% |
| Administration (Member Services and Fundraising) |
14% |
| International | .3% |
| Brochure | 7% |
A coalition of organizations and individuals in the Florida Keys, including Coastal Research & Education, Common Ground, Conservation Network International, Coral Reef Community Foundation, Curtis Kruer, Environmental Solutions International, Friends of the Islamorada State Parks, Florida Keys Citizens Coalition, Florida Keys Office--Center for Marine Conservation, Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, Florida Keys Marine Mammal Rescue Team, Key Deer Protection Alliance, Members of the Key West Association of Dive Operators, Reefkeeper International, Sanctuary Friends of the Florida Keys/Save Our Keys, Upper Keys Citizens Association, Water Quality Joint Action Group, Wildlife Rescue of the Florida Keys and REEF RELIEF all joined efforts to mark the 25th anniversary of the Clean Water Act with a letter to the President and Congress supporting strengthening of the act. The letter enclosed a report entitled "Prescription for Clean Water: How to Meet the Goals of the Clean Water Act" published by the Clean Water Network, describing six challenges that need to be met to strengthen the Clean Water Act.
Locally, sewage treatment, or absence thereof, is a subject of hot debate as the county struggles to upgrade illegal cesspits and the city seeks funding for sewage treatment upgrades that include phasing out a nearshore outfall with nutrient removal and deep well injection. The Keys is home to North America's only living coral barrier reef an the newly-established Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
"We must insure that the coral reef survives for future generations by improving sewage treatment throughout the Florida Keys and cleaning up the agricultural runoff from Florida Bay. A strong Clean Water Act could make the difference with funding for these programs; if we do not take action to clean up our oceans, we will lose not only the coral reef, but our tourism, commercial fishing, and quality of life that is so dependant upon Florida's coral reef ecosystem," noted REEF RELIEF's DeeVon Quirolo.
"The bird population of Florida Bay has seriously declined and it is an established fact that water pollution is a contributing factor," noted Laura B. Quinn of the FLorida Keys Wild Bird Rehab Center.
Mick Putney, President of the Key Dee Protection Alliance agrees, "Living as we do in the last remaining habitat of the endangered key deer, and beside the only living coral reef in the continental United States, we are acutely aware of the vital importance of the Clean Water Act of 1972, and urge that it be continued and strengthened. Locally, we have a special concern for protecting from pollution the unique fresh water lens which underlies Big Pine and No Name Keys and is essential to the survival of our unique ecosystem."
"The enormous issue affecting the Keys resources forever, particularly the reef, will be determined by how effectively the US Army Corp of Engineers and the other federal agencies will be able to enforce the Clean Water Act," said Dagny Johnson of the Upper Keys Citizens Association.
"The REEF RELIEF Coral Survey has documented the acceleration of new diseases on the coral reef. In the past year alone, diseases have increased 545% according to studies by Dr. James Porter. Visibility has dropped dramatically, the water is green, nuisance algal blooms are choking our corals and, most recently, coral bleaching has affected most of the corals. We must act now, or it will be too late," added Quirolo.
Recognizing the critical role of water quality in maintaining Sanctuary resources, Congress directed the USEPA and the State of Florida to develop a Water Quality Protection Program for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the first for any sanctuary. The goal of the program is to "restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of Sanctuary waters, including restoration and maintenance of a balanced, indigenous population of corals, shellfish, fish and wildlife, and recreational activities in and on the water." The language reflects that of the mandate for the Clean Water Act of 1972, which established the goal of "restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical and biological integrity of our nation's waters."
Yet a recent effort on the part of the City of Key West to seek $10 million for sewage system improvements was met with less than enthusiasm by the Steering Committee of the Water Quality Program. The city is spending over $35 million on the project. After great effort on the part of EPA staff, $4 million of USEPA funds was recently allocated to Keys sewage improvements, a sum that pales in comparison to overall needs throughout the Keys.
The Clean Water Act's main goals are: zero discharge of pollutants into navigable waters by 1985 and fishable and swimmable waters by 1983. These goals have not been met. In fact, the most recent EPA report found that 40% of US waterways are not safe for fishing or swimming. While federal and state governments work together to address pollution problems, the federal law needs to be strengthened and better enforced.
The six challenges that our nation must undertake to help reach these goals: *We must clean up and prevent toxic water pollution--including polluted runoff--which threatens the health of our families. *Save America's wetlands because they can clean our drinking water, help filter pollution out of our waterways, protect our communities from floods, and sustain fish and wildlife. *Guarantee Americans right to know water is safe for drinking, fishing, or swimming. *Protect's America's lakes, rivers and estuaries for future generations. *Enforce environmental laws more effectively to stop illegal pollution and make polluters pay to clean up their mess.
Action Alert ! Please support this initiative to strengthen the Clean Water Act. Our future depends upon it. Write to Robert Goo, Assessment and Watershed Protection Division (4503F), USEPA, 401 M Street SW, Washington DC 20460 or fax to (202) 260-1977. Thank You.
TARPON (Megalops Atlanticus)
FAMILY: Tarpon - Elopidae
Tarpon are long, silvery fish that are distinguished by their upturned mouths. Because of their size (tarpon can attain eight feet in length) and their upright dorsal fins, divers sometimes mistake them for sharks. Tarpon are renowned game fish and known for their tremendous fighting ability when hooked. Luckily for them tarpon meat is definitely not worth trying. A female tarpon lays 13 million eggs in a single spawn, but very few of these eggs survive to become full grown tarpons. During they day. you will often see tarpon in large schools, swimming slowly, around reefs, seagrass areas, canals and secluded areas in the backcountry.
Cape Canaveral Florida, October 4th, 1997, high noon. A thousand people have gathered under a scorching sun. They stand listening as 87 year old "Grandmother for Peace" Peg McIntire speaks from a central bandstand, "I prefer to think of these actions not as Civil Disobedience, but as Divine Obedience."
So began the International Day of Protest organized by the Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice against the Cassini space mission, a potentially deadly gamble involving the launch of 73 pounds of plutonium, a substance so radioactive that inhaling as little as a millionth of a gram can provoke a fatal cancer. NASA's own documents admit that a six county area could be affected by a liftoff accident, and that as many as "five billion of earth's inhabitants could receive 99% or more of the radiation exposure" should an inadvertent atmospheric re-entry and disintegration occur during Cassini's near earth flyby in August 1999.
Within the hour the protesters- led by a bagpiper and twin towers of peace cranes, waving signs, "NASA: Stop Playing God" and chanting, "No Nukes in Space"-- would march the 3/4 mile to the front gates of Canaveral. The Cape, under a "Threatcon Alpha" security alert, was locked-down and bristled with helmeted, Terminator-sized riot police armed and frozen behind Plexiglas shields, billy clubs at ready. State troopers and military police milled in the background. An armored riot control vehicle stood nearby. Helicopters buzzed overhead. In an adjacent bay, air boats and military scuba divers and an apparent sharp-shooter waited. Eleven Grandmothers for Peace approached the gate and asked to be let in, to cross the security line and face arrest.
By prior arrangement the officer in charge cracked the gates and one by one the grannies crossed and were taken into custody. Three Rambo prototypes immediately slammed the gate shut. Sixteen other protesters approached and climbed over, dropping down into the waiting arms of the law. All were led away while the crowd screamed and chanted. The rest of us lingered two hours, calling to the cops "They're risking your children too! We love you!" until the jailhouse bus left. Protesters then headed to the Brevard County lockup to wait for the prisoners and provide support.
After a four hour delay during which the group's legal consul was denied access to the arrested protesters, a sheriffs deputy appeared and announced that the waiting room would have to be cleared of Cassini protest supporters. Fla. Coalition's Bruce Gagnon immediately asked "On what grounds?" The deputy repeated his orders. Someone replied "how do you know who's here for Cassini?". Gagnon asked if there was any precedent for clearing the waiting room of people waiting; many supporters began mumbling about the right of assembly in public places and sat down, two more cops appeared and as a few tense minutes passed, Gagnon noted "This is not Nazi Germany". The wife of one of the jailed protesters began videotaping the confrontation. The lawyer spoke, " Are you aware that I have not yet been let in to speak with the prisoners. Is your commanding officer aware of that?"
Informed resistance paid off. Within ten minutes the lawyer was inside. Within two hours all but four of the of the prisoners were released on their own recognizance. The four who remained, including Peg McIntire, had been arrested previously for Civil Disobedience peace actions and were planning to conscientiously refuse any bond offered to them so as to require a court appearance and be afforded the opportunity to speak for the record about Cassini. (As it turns out, all were released on their own recognizance the next day.)
By the time this column goes to print Cassini will have been launched, hopefully without catastrophic incident. Twelve more nuclear launches are planned for Canaveral over the next decade, not including the US Spacer Command's long range plans to launch nuclear reactors and orbital weapons systems. Like nuclear power plants, all will be declared perfectly safe until the inevitable human error results in an aerospace Three Mile Island or, if Florida is very unlucky, a mobile Chernobyl.
In spite of space solar power alternatives and the huge problems of radioactive disposal and worker contamination, nukes continue to be aerospace contractors' power source of choice. The continuing post cold war technological bias in favor of space nuclear power hasn't so much to do with good science or social responsibility as it has to do with the established interests of the nuclear industrial complex, the long range "Masters of Space" visions of the US Space Command and NASA's growing financial dependence on military contracts.
In the face of sobering risks to the public and the environment, these agencies have vested themselves with the imperial attitude of empire builders. Therein lies the point of Cassini's relevance to all of us. A sustainable future depends on humanity's collective ability to learn from past mistakes and reinvent human technologies so that they respect and enhance, rather than threaten the planet's complex life support systems. The horrendous legacy of nuclear weapons, wastes, testing, power plants and manufacture that has littered the globe with radioactive sacrifice zones, cancers, mutations and deaths should present sufficient evidence that nuclear risks outweigh benefits. Yet instead of phasing out this risky technology and developing livable alternatives, the scientists of the earth's most "advanced" nation defiantly launch it over humanity's head, exercising a kind of fatal attraction to the technological status quo.
In the wake of Cassini, acting locally and thinking globally takes on a whole new meaning. FCPJ's Bruce Gagnon wrote, "It is fitting that Clinton has given NASA the authority to launch Cassini on Oct 13, Columbus Day. The present NASA blueprints for the exploration and exploitation of space reminds one of Queen Isabella and Columbus. They are carrying the same consciousness of greed, war and environmental destruction as they head into space. . . I said that while I was not opposed to the space program in general terms, I felt that until we learned to live properly on and with this planet, that anything we did in space would only repeat the same mistakes that we are currently making here on earth."
(For more information read The Wrong Stuff by Karl Grossman and visit the FCPJ website at http://www.afn.org/~fcpj/space/cassini/.)
In the pages of this issue of REEF LINE you will read about the many important projects which REEF RELIEF has undertaken--projects which you, as a member, have made possible through your support. Over our eleven year history the single greatest form of support has been from our volunteers. These friends tirelessly help us with every project, program or activity--in the office or out in the field--and we can honestly say that we could not have accomplished what we have without our volunteers.
There are however, things which unfortunately volunteering alone cannot do--like pay bills. For these we have to rely on the generous financial support of our members. For most, this support has been in the form of membership dues. However, there are numerous additional ways of financially supporting REEF RELIEF, many of which might even generate benefits back to you. Here's a brief run-down:
Membership Dues: your annual organizational dues, renewable 12 months from the date of your joining REEF RELIEF*, are applied across the board, supporting all programs, projects and activities or the organization. (Note-this past summer we converted over to this "anniversary schedule" from an "everybody renews in November-schedule" so please bear with us in 1998 as we get everyone back an anniversary date renewal).
Gifts of Memberships: many members have found that gift memberships (that is, memberships they buy for other people) do, in fact, made great gifts. At $20, they are affordable, support a great cause, and are a 365-days-a-year gift.
Environmental Store Purchases: Supporting the REEF RELIEF Environmental Center and Store through purchases helps keep the Center open as a public learning facility. A mail order catalog is available for those outside Key West and all proceeds benefit REEF RELIEF. The store offers a variety of eco-friendly products including prints, cards, books, videos, children's items, tshirts, artwork, towels, sunglasses, cleaning & energy-saving products.
Annual Appeal Contributions: these donations, made in response to our once-a-year request (which just went out in the mail), go above and beyond membership dues in supporting all the projects, programs and activities of the organization.
Project Gifts: some donors are attracted to REEF RELIEF because of a special project which has motivated them in a particular way; they in turn make special contributions restricted to that particular project.
In-Kind Gifts: a common form of support from our friends in the business community, gifts of supplies, merchandise, equipment,etc. help us either undertake a special project or enable us to generate additional revenues to support our work.
Gifts of Stock: some donors have chosen, for a wide variety of reasons, that instead of making a cash donation to REEF RELIEF, they would give a gift of shares of stock. By giving the actual stock, many donors avoid a capital gains tax if the tax has appreciated in value and the gift is fully tax-deductible.
Planned Giving: that is, including REEF RELIEF in your Will or Life Insurance or establishing a Pooled Income Fund, Charitable Lead Trust, Charitable Remainder Trust, etc. Current U.S. tax laws allow most donors to make a sizable donation to REEF RELIEF through one or more of these instruments and receive financial benefits in return. For more information, ask your accountant or lawyer about your planned giving options.
Gifts of Property: Over the years, REEF RELIEF has benefited from gifts of property such as boats for our work. However, gifts or other property, such as real estate, or automobiles could also benefit REEF RELIEF through our sale of these items where we would then use the sale proceeds to support our work.
If you have any questions on these or any other forms of financial support for REEF RELIEF, please contact me at your convenience.
As the year ended, REEF RELIEF received six major foundation grants which will match year-end gifts given by our generous members. Grants were received from the SFC Charitable Foundation, Inc ($10,000), Community Foundation of the Florida Keys ($2000), The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation ($15,000), The George Storer Foundation ($10,000), the Chingos Foundation ($3000), the Key West Hard Rock Cafe ($5200) and the proceeds from an Honor Card-Ben & Jerry's promotion to benefit REEF RELIEF ($2500).
The grants, all awarded in December, will help fund REEF RELIEF's photomonitoring survey, educational brochures, direct action programs and operation of the Environmental Center in Key West. They also serve to match individual gifts being contributed during the Year-End Campaign. For those of you who responded, thank you!
"These leadership gifts came from good friends of the marine environment and REEF RELIEF and in nearly all cases represented an increase from past giving. I believe that this clearly shows strong support for the new direction our Board, Staff, and Members have given this organization," noted Dr. Chuck Olson, the REEF RELIEF Director of Resources. Earlier this year, REEF RELIEF endorsed a bold, enlarged mission for the organization, one which has the eleven year old organization playing a much greater role in Keys marine research and education as well as in mooring buoy and other marine conservation efforts on the national and international level.
Hinting that more grants and a major announcement were upcoming, Dr. Olson stated, "January will be a historic month for REEF RELIEF and more than ever before we will be in a great position to play a leadership role in the protection of coral reefs here in the Keys and worldwide."
"We cannot be satisfied with things as they are. We cannot be satisfied to drift, to rest on our oars, to glide over a sea whose depths are shaken by subterranean upheavals." John F. Kennedy
As a summer intern for Reef Relief, I was assigned many tasks involving the conservation of coral reefs. I see one of those tasks, Reef Awareness Week, as a strong action in response to great dissatisfaction. I learned that the state of reefs worldwide is declining, and I believe that one way in which people may contribute to and make an effort toward the preservation of these highly important ecosystems is involvement: involvement in communities, in schools, in non-profit organizations. Perhaps through this participation, it is possible to make a difference.
This year's Reef Awareness Week, held from July 20th-26th , was part of a worldwide celebration, the International Year of the Reef. The purpose of the week was to heighten awareness and concern for the most biologically diverse marine ecosystem on Earth- the coral reef. I spent a good part of the summer planning various events, and along the way had the privilege of working with and meeting a number of fascinating people, many of whom were directly involved in the week's activities.
A week long feature was the library display, adorning the walls and easels of the five public libraries in the Keys. Each consisted of an educational poster and video designed to inform inquiring minds about the coral reef ecosystem.
To kick off Reef Awareness Week, volunteers from the community, along with the entire Reef Relief staff, gathered at the Safe Harbour Marina on Stock Island to splice line for the mooring buoys. Despite the rather poor weather conditions, the event was extremely successful. Amidst a feast of conch fritters and dolphin, provided by Reef Chief, young, old and everyone in between spliced each line we hauled over to the marina. Local reggae performer Paris, joined the fun later in the evening and entertained the crowds with lively tunes.
Tuesday took us to John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo for a slide presentation by Larry Benvenuti. Mr. Benvenuti, a well-known local photographer, showed a collection of shots of the coral reefs and surrounding areas of Cuba.
The Reef Relief Annual Membership Meeting, the key event of the week, was held on Wednesday at the Pier House Caribbean Spa. Many local restaurants and bars generously donated food and beverages for the event ( of which there were very few leftovers), and the meeting itself featured three prominent coral reef conservationists- Craig Quirolo, Katy Thacker of the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society, and Dr. James Porter of the University of Georgia. Craig Quirolo's state of the reef address included distressing evidence, in the form of photos taken over a period of time as part of his photomonitoring survey, that the reef in the Florida Keys is subject to all sorts of abuse. I was actually able to accompany him in July on one of these expeditions, during which he photographed a sickly blue star coral at Western Dry rocks. He pointed out the beginnings of white pox disease, as well as areas that had already extensively experienced its effects. Though depressing in many ways, it certainly augmented my concern for the growing problem in the Keys.
Katy Thacker provided the attendees with an International perspective of the situation, indicating that the state of Jamaica's reefs is no better than that of our own. She also provided a history of their work in Negril and an update on the current projects on which the NCRPS and Reef Relief are collaborating.
Dr. Porter reinforced the notion that the reefs of the Keys are declining at an alarming rate, including some disturbing percentages of increased disease recorded at various locations. I also had the opportunity to go with Dr. Porter on a research dive in late June, during which he performed a photomonitoring survey at Eastern Dry Rocks. He made an interesting comment as we left the site: he told me that he believes there's a huge grey area between scientific research and educational outreach, and thinks more and more that the key is successful public education.
In an effort to involve the community in the work of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, a contest was held to design a unique logo for the Sanctuary. Alyson Simmons of the Sanctuary coordinated the event, which drew entries from Key Largo to Key West. The artists and public were invited to a reception at the Key West Sanctuary office, where each design was recognized and winners were announced.
The Water Quality Luncheon and Presentation was held on Friday at the Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada. Guest speaker Dr. Brian Lapointe of the Harbour Branch Oceanographic Institute gave a provocative presentation on the number one threat to the reefs of the Florida Keys: Water Quality Decline.
The week came to a close on Saturday with an Environmental Poetry Reading at the Green Parrot. It featured several local poets, each of whom read original work pertaining to the environment.
The week was just a small part of my experience with Reef Relief. I learned from working there that they are not satisfied with the way things are. But instead of drifting, instead of resting on oars bogged down by the weight of an ecological crisis, Reef Relief makes an effort to tame the upheaval and destruction coral reefs face through community, local and global action. I am proud to have been a part of such a goal.
Reef relief would like to thank the following members who have joined or renewed during the last quarter of the year.
All Animal Clinic, Ambrosia House, Antonia's, Authors of Key West, Banana Bay Resort, Barefoot Bob's, Beachside Water Sports-Holiday Divers, Camilles, Can't Miss Charters, Center for Marine Conservation, Cheeca Lodge, Commodore Porter Apts. & Gardens, Conch House, Dennis Pharmacy, DMZ Screenprinting, Easy Day Charters, Environmental Circus, Erickson Builders, Flagler County 4H Marine Club, Fury Catamarans, Gibbons Publishing, Green Parrot, Hair Wraps of Key West, Harbor Lights Seafood & Raw Bar, Hideaway Thrift, Hilton Key West Resort, Kennedy Studios, Key West Air Service, Key West Candy Company, Key West Optician, Llewellyn Adventure Travel, London Yacht Charters, Lone Star Parrot Head Club, Lucky Street Gallery, Margaritaville-Key West, Margaritaville-New Orleans, Maxamillion Cruises, Nannie Mixsell's, Neptune Designs, Noah's Ark, Old Island T-shirts, Operations Management International (OMI), Pandemonium, Proffitt's Inc., PS Galleries, Restaurant Store, Ricky's Blue Heaven, Rumrunners, Schooner Liberty, Schooner Wolf, Spokane Saltwater Society, Strunk Ace Hardware, Subtropic Dive Center, Sunset Watersports, T-shirt factory, TMG Productions, Waterfront Market, West Marine, Wildlife & Nature Magazine, Windy Day Charters, Ken Alreuter, Sid Anderson, Michael Ashey, Gerry Baker, Derek Bambauer, J. Bauer, Bobby Bishop, Marika Blades, Marta Blades, William Blades, Dick Boles, Paul M. Boyland, W. Lowell Bray, Paul Brooks, James Brush, Bob & Kimberly Bryan, Hiram E. Bush, Lynn & Dave Canella, Patricia Dewitt Chapman, Robert & Mary Cintron, Roberta Coates, John Cornwell, Marie Craft, Sandy Crump Jr., Mrs. Charles H. Curtis, Jerry Daigle, Amy Dailey, Bruce & Kerry Darby, LCDR Carl. R. Davies USN, Ret., Fred & Pat Davis, Joel B. Day, Alex Deal, Bob & Marcy DeHaven, Alain DePierrefeu, Scott Eckert & Nancy Harger, Shad Edith, Rapharel Edmonston, Angela Epperson, Linda Evelyn, Jeff Forte, Ian & Susan Garriques, Robert Gauthier, Walter & Carolyn Gavin, Jeff & Joan Gilbert, J. Gonzalez, Brian Goodack, James & Vicki Grant, Jackie Grimm, Virginia A. Gross, Sheridan Haines, Michael & Lynnette Harner, Stephanie A. Hayes, Morgan Henderson, Gail & Craig Hollenback, Thomas L. Hollowell, Dennis Howley, Lynn Hull, Sol & Barbara Jacobson, Annilaura M. Jaggers, Jeffrey R. Jones, Julie Kliner, Christine J. Krason, Ana J. Krason, Hugh & Dawn Lamont, Thom, Jamie & Jeff Larson, Janet Le Graff, Lisette Legrain, Keith H. Lepley, Karla Lindly, Kevin & Kay Love, Rhonda Macintyre-Willis, Jay MacMaster, Bob MacNawy, John Malone, Kimberly Maltese, Christine Mancini, Mel'isa Martin, Brian Martin, Kevin Mattalucci, Tom McClay, Elena McKinnon, Linda K. Meininger, Debora D. Meitz MD, Margy Mertz, Tim Micheli, Cindy Milburn, Capt. Gail Miller, Jan Montgomery, Debra E Mudrack, Colleen Nash, Dennis & Eden Needleman, Paul Norden, Michelle Obine, Peter O'Keefe, Jamie Olwell, Katharine Leigh Parker, Steve Patterson, J. David & Bonnie Patterson, Mike Petty-Friends of Ft. Taylor, Peter & Patrice Popovic, Ray Potter, Steven Pratt, Ellen Price, Rebecca Raybe, John & Ann Radabaugh, Michelle Rice, Thomas H. Rinehart II, Jodell Roberts, Harvey Riotman, Stephany M. Ramero, Dianne Rosati, William & Edda Ross, Robert Rowland, Aaron Rowlett, Robert & Jane Ann Rummell, Johnna Russian, Mario Saavedra, Karen Sands-Crawford, Jenna Santangelo, Athena Scalise, Lee C. Schmitt, Renee Selby, Dr. Charles Shaffer, Tom Shannon, The Silvestri's, Jane Skaminsky, Gregory Wm. Stien, Marion Stevens, Deborah M. Strause, Elishea Strickland, D. Sullins Stuart, Jeffery J. Syman, Betty Thompson, Dean Tuckman, Paul Tumarkin, Elliot & Noelle Van Nostrand, Scott Vineberg, George & Tracy Vogel, Paula & Rob Walker, Robbie Walker, Terri Walsh, John Waterbury, Bradley J. Weber, India Weber, F. Noreene Wells, Charles Whitworth, Capt. Bill Wickers Jr., George & Dorothy Lee Booth Witwer, Lesa Wolfe, Harford D. Wright , Peter Yatsuk, Charles & Clarice Yentsch, Mr. & Mrs. Yi-Guang Lin, Maureen Zeiss, and Joyce V. Zerwkh.
Operations Management International, Inc. (OMI), operators of the Key West wastewater treatment system recently sponsored a raffle to benefit Reef Relief , the Key West based conservation organization dedicated to preserve and protect living coral reef ecosystems through local, regional and global efforts.
The unique partnership evolved from Reef Relief's recent efforts working with the City of Key West to expedite current sewer system improvements, add nutrient removal to the central sewage plant , and then inject it into deep wells. This will phase out the ocean sewer outfall off Ft. Taylor, eliminating the 300 pounds of nutrients which enter nearshore waters daily. "OMI entered a partnership with Reef Relief in an effort to promote clean water," OMI's Greg Smith noted. " As Reef Relief wants to protect the environment, that is OMI's main job," said Smith.
OMI is an internationally active operations firm and has been the Key West wastewater treatment system operator since the facility's introduction in 1989. " We would like to thank OMI for their continuing commitment to clean water and to a healthy environment for the residents of Key West," stated Reef Relief Project Coordinator Michael Blades
The raffle raised $1000.00 which will be utilized in Reef Relief projects such as the mooring buoy program and research on finding sources and cures for some of the diseases plaguing our fragile marine ecosystem. OMI solicited local businesses for raffle prizes and over fifty prizes were raffled off live on the air on local radio favorite Island 107.1.
The Grand Prize, two round-trip airline tickets anywhere in the U.S. donated by OMI was won by Key West resident Eric Darling.
Photograph of OMI representatives presenting check
Photograph from the Photomonitoring Survey
Annual Reef Relief Membership Meeting in July, 1997