DESCRIPTION

An action-oriented non-profit membership organization dedicated to "Preserve and Protect the Living Coral Reef of the Florida Keys."

SERVICE AND ACTIVITIES

Volunteers and staff make it possible to sustain these conservation and education programs

Reef Mooring Buoy Program: Reef Relief has installed 116 buoys at Seven Key West-area coral reefs. Buoys eliminate anchor damage to living coral. The buoys are maintained using a donated 20' workboat pursuant to a 25 year non-paying contract with Monroe County

Carol Reef Awareness Campaign: This multi-media campaign educates residents and visitors of the Florida Keys and elsewhere on why and how to protect the coral reef ecosystem. It includes educational brochures, newsletters, signs, videos, teacher kits, and research materials, in addition to a year-round schedule of activities, including Reef Awareness Week, school presentations and field trips, speeches, radio and television announcements and programs, and other special events.

Reed Relief Environmental Education Center is located at the water's edge at 201 William Street, It is public learning facility with continuous videos, displays, free printed materials, a resource library, volunteer activity center and a coral reef gift shop. It is also the headquarters for all Reef Relief operations and is open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Marine Debris Project: Each year, Reef Relief sponsors a county- wide clean-up to heighten awareness of the impacts of marine debris on the environment. Hundreds of volunteers and organizations in the Florida Keys comb the beaches, reefs and out-islands in the one-day effort. You'll see out "Don't Teach Your Trash to Swim" signs posted along U.S.1 and the Keys marinas; a video by the same name airs on local television.

International Projects: Reef Relied representatives participate in international forums and provide information and training to grassroots organizations and government agencies involved in protecting coral reefs worldwide.

Scientific Research and Monitoring: Reef Relief provides technical assistance to NOAA, EPA and other scientists studying water quality at Key West-area coral reefs. We have launched a photomonitoring survey to document change in the coral reef community over time.

Fundraising: Cayo Carnival is the annual fundraiser held each November in Key West and is "Party of the Year" for thousands of local supporters. Another fundrasing source is "Treasure Chest", a mail order catalog of coral reef gifts

AREA OF CONCENTRATION

Carol Reef Protection

GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF ACTIVITES

florida Keys, Caribbean

TYPE OF ORGANIZATION

NGO, 501 (C)(3), Membership, Regional, Caribbean