January 2012 Reef Relief News: Great news for Reef Relief!‏

 

REEF RELIEF TO MANAGE MARINE PARK

 

Reef Relief and the City of Key West, having both adopted Resolution # 12-025, approved by the City Commission on January 4, 2012, turns over management and maintenance of the Key West Marine Park (KWMP) to Reef Relief for a period of three years.

 

BACKGROUND 

 

Reef Relief founders Craig and DeeVon Quirolo first established the park in cooperation with the City of Key West and Monroe County in 2001. The marine park runs along south side of the island from the White Street Pier to the end of Duval Street, extending seaward 600 feet. The original agreement between Reef Relief and the City of Key West stated that Reef Relief would manage and maintain the park for a period of five years, and upon expiration of the term of that agreement, the management and maintenance of the park would revert back to the City of Key West. The Spottswood Companies, Southernmost Hotel Collection, Wyndham Resorts, and funds provided by Florida’s Coastal Management Program through NOAA helped in the conception of Key West Marine Park in 2001.

 

In 2010, Reef Relief approached the City staff about resuming management of the Marine Park and to utilize the park and its resources as an educational and outreach tool to visitors and local residents alike focusing on the importance of protecting and conserving the marine environment of the Florida Keys.The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a Letter of Consent to the City to turn responsibility for the park over to Reef Relief.

 

PARK RESOURCES

 

The living marine environment of the protected ~ 40 acre park include sea grass meadows which serve as nursery habitat to a variety of fishes and invertebrates; they also serve to trap bottom sediments and prevent their re-suspension.   Read more

 

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

 

The marine park ecosystem will be interpreted to the public through educational signage, brochures, and a nature center through a partnership with Monroe County and the Higgs Beach Development Project. Read more

 

DEDICATION

 

The official dedication of Key West Marine Park will be Saturday March 31, 2012 at Salute' on the Beach. From 6-10pm Reef Relief will celebrate our 25^th Anniversary. With special guest Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24, Salute’s will provide food and a cash bar. Tickets are available now for $15 and $20 at the door. Proceeds will benefit KWMP and other Reef Relief programs.

 

Reef Relief depends upon your support, please visit our web site, reefrelief.org, and learn how you can become a part of this vitally important effort to protect and conserve our coral reef ecosystem for both present and future generations.

 

The Obama Administration is moving forward with its National Ocean Policy (NOP), and we need your help to make sure it is implemented effectively.

The NOP was created to “ensure the protection, maintenance, and restoration of the health of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems and resources.” Through four key themes—ecosystem-based management; best available science and data; efficiency and collaboration; and strong regional efforts—the policy outlines action that must be taken to protect marine ecosystems and to encourage sustainable ocean uses.

The National Ocean Council has released a blueprint for implementation of the NOP. While it’s a good start, more can be done to ensure that the plan is as strong as possible, starting with more interagency cooperation and greater emphasis on activities taking place on the water.

 

The National Ocean Council seeks comments from citizens like you.

Please send them your comments and ask the council to ensure a robust, conservation-oriented National Ocean Policy.

Archer Key Cleanup with Clearly Unique Charters

 

On Saturday Jan. 28^th Reef Relief was joined by 11 volunteers for a backcountry shoreline cleanup of Archer Key off of Key West.  Clearly Unique Charters provide glass-bottom kayak eco-tours of the backcountry islands. Our volunteers removed 519 pounds of marine debris from the shores of this natural area. Thanks to our volunteers this marine debris now will not be able to injure, entangle, or kill sea turtles, birds and bottom dwelling organisms like soft and hard corals, and sponges. Archer Key is one of the many mangrove islands within the Key West National Wildlife Refuge.  These islands provide vital habitat for the endangered and threatened fish, wildlife, plants and migratory birds found in the Florida Keys.

 

Among items volunteers removed from the mangroves included buoys, lots of plastics, tires, trap line, a gas tank, aluminum cans and more.

 

Saturday Februbrary 25th, 2012    10 am-1 pm

 

Reef Relief, T.R.A.S.H.E.D. in the Keys and Big Pine Kayak Adventures are hosting a shoreline clean-up of No Name Key. Volunteers are needed to help remove marine debris that is harmful to marine life and contributes to poor nearshore water quality.

 

Big Pine Kayak Adventures is providing kayaks. Meet us at the Old Wooden Bridge Fishing Camp located at MM 30, look for the Reef Relief sign. The event starts at 10:00 am and ends at 1:00pm.  Please RSVP to Reef Relief at [email protected] or call 305-294-3100.

 

Got a site you think would be good for a shoreline clean-up? Contact Reef Relief and give us details.

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