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In this Issue:
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News & Notes
October 2009
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Our Amazing Ocean
Keys Host Marine Research Expeditions
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NOAA Ship Nancy Foster (home port: Norfolk Va.) spent most of September right here in our very own Sanctuary completing two marine research expeditions.
Coral Reef
Disease and Condition Cruise
Beginning September 11, scientists from FKNMS and partnering
universities and organizations embarked on a nine-day research mission to study
the health of the renowned Keys reefs. Since
1997, scientists aboard the Coral Reef Disease and Condition Cruise have been
monitoring coral health along almost 200 miles of the Florida Reef
Tract.
During each annual mission, researchers perform more than
120 dives in order to survey 42 fixed stations at 13 reef sites within the Sanctuary, extending from Carysfort Reef off Key Largo westward through the
Tortugas Ecological Reserve. Annual monitoring provides long-term data to compare trends in reef health
over time that, in turn, contributes to management decisions and directs future
research priorities.
This year's team of scientists hailed
from across the country, from George Mason University to the Smithsonian
Institute, and included a NOAA Teacher at Sea.
Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research
Cruise
From September 22 - 30, a
team of researchers headed to the Dry Tortugas to provide coastal managers
with scientific information and tools to make informed stewardship decisions
about the Tortugas North Ecological Reserve.
For nearly
ten years, the research team has monitored fish and their habitats through diver
surveys, hi-resolution underwater photography and sophisticated sonar. They
conduct research to examine habitat utilization of fishes by sampling both on
and off the reef, focusing on the deep edge, where it transitions
into sand. Such data is critical to understanding how establishment of
the Tortugas Ecological Reserve has affected the ecological balance of the
region. Read more about the 2009 research cruise.
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Hot Issues
Funding for Marine Litter Reduction
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Remember the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" we featured in our August newsletter? It's an area in the middle of the North Pacific where
plastic debris accumulates across hundreds of miles of open sea. It's an overwhelming problem that many are at a loss how to fix. Well, here's a project right in our backyard that's aimed at combating the problem at the grassroots level.
 The Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI),
headquartered in Marathon, was recently awarded funding from the U.S.
Department of State for a new multi-country project to reduce marine litter and
develop and implement best waste management practices in the Wider Caribbean.
The broad goal of the project, which will run for two years, is to develop greater
appreciation and personal responsibility for management of litter that would
likely end up as marine debris in each of the five participating countries (Belize,
Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and The Bahamas). Through a
combination of public education, teacher training, development of litter warden
programs and the establishment of well-placed waste and recycling stations, the
project will provide a number of visible and practical pilot litter control
programs.
Technical oversight will be provided by GCFI and the
Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Management Network and Forum (CaMPAM). Educational and other materials developed will be made available free of charge
at www.gcfi.org. For more information or to participate in other
multi-country proposals, please contact Emma Doyle.
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Record Amount of Marine Debris Collected
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Team OCEAN's Todd Hitchins
and Robert Keeley were joined by a dozen
volunteers this year for the Ocean Conservancy's International Cleanup day.
Boca Chica Key, where the old US-1 borders the Naval Air Station, is also the
edge of FKNMS' Western Sambo Ecological Reserve. Due to prevailing winds and
currents, this area becomes a depository for huge amounts of marine debris,
much of it floating in from Cuba, Haiti and even parts of Central America.
 Volunteers walked the beach
and kayaked to remove plastic, cans, bottles, Styrofoam, polypropylene
trap line and discarded beach furniture from this otherwise beautiful section
of mangrove and beach shoreline. Total marine debris collected for proper
disposal broke a new record for Team OCEAN: 1,618 pounds! Way to go, Team!
Team OCEAN volunteers
contribute many hours to shoreline cleanups every year. These cleanups
serve the community by beautifying our natural areas, and they help many species of
wildlife by reducing entanglement and ingestion hazards posed by marine debris.
Become a Team OCEAN volunteer.
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Calling All Teachers!
Educators interested in gaining first-hand research
experience on an ocean research trip should apply for NOAA's Teacher at Sea
Program. All necessary travel costs are included. Visit teacheratsea.noaa.gov
to learn more and apply. Applications deadline is Dec. 31. |
NMSF Welcomes New President
Patlis has more than 19 years of
experience in law, policy, finance and management. His specialty is the
development and implementation of environmental laws and policies, with
specific expertise in marine conservation, climate change and foreign
assistance. Prior to joining the Foundation, he most recently worked at the World
Wildlife Fund. He began his legal career as an attorney for NOAA, where he worked extensively on issues relating to the
Endangered Species Act and protected resources.
Patlis will have to fill big shoes left by founding
president Lori Arguelles and previously acting president Joy Williams.
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Webinar Explores Lessons Learned in Keys
FKNMS was featured in a live “webinar” on October 19 hosted
by MPA News and the EBM Tools Network. The purpose of the webinar was to explore
lessons learned from MPA networking programs in the FKNMS and rocky reef MPAs
in the Mediterranean. Speakers were Billy Causey, NMS, and Joachim Claudet,
University of Salento (Italy). The 90-minute webinar featured presentations by
the speakers, followed by questions submitted in advance and from the live
webinar audience. Transcripts and more information.
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blue & green occasions
celebrating the event...
honoring the earth and sea
SERVING THE FLORIDA KEYS AND KEY WEST
We invite you to hold your special celebrations, business meetings and other occasions in a meaningful way at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center.
Our staff will help you celebrate in a green way, and your donations
will help to give back to the “Sanctuary.” Call today to reserve your
date and share your celebration with the earth and sea! Call
847-612-4712 or email.
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Our Facebook Group is now a FAN PAGE.
Won't you please click below to change over?
Updates, photos, videos, latest coral reef headlines and like-minded friends:
all in one place!
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We want your input! If you have stories of note or just want to comment on our newsletter, please email: NewsletterEditor@SanctuaryFriends.org.
We're developing a Central Environmental Calendar for the Keys.
If you have an upcoming event with an environmental focus or that
relates to our fabulous Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, please
email: calendar@SanctuaryFriends.org. |
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Sanctuary Friends Foundation of the Florida Keys is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization (Tax ID# 59-2443959).
We take your privacy seriously. Your email address will never be sold, rented or given away. All our emails include an easy opt-out feature.
If you have activated spam filters in your email application, please add the following email to your address book: Sanctuary_Friends_Foundation_of_@mail.vresp.com.
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Happy Halloween!
Don't be afraid ...
Become a Sanctuary Friend
and support our coral reef
and marine ecosystems.
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| From the Board |
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Greetings,
Last month, along with FKNMS's Team OCEAN program, I had the pleasure of participating in the 24th annual International Coastal Cleanup day sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy. Last year, there were nearly 400,000 volunteers, in thousands of separately organized events, who collected more than 6.8 million pounds of trash along ocean, island and other waterway shorelines in 100 countries and 42 U.S. states – the largest volunteer effort of its kind.
Hard to believe our beautiful shorelines could be full of so much trash! In separate loads, I collected two lawn chairs, two plastic crates, plastic water bottles, cups, caps, single and multiple gallon plastic jugs, a rusted metal bucket, plastic grocery store and dry chemical bags and personal hygiene items. And did I mention I found a lot of plastic?
Some people might call me nuts to find pleasure in picking up trash, but it is very tangible, good work. I got exercise, sunshine, camaraderie and the feeling of knowing that I was participating in something much bigger than myself – global in nature – that made a significant difference.
One way you can make a difference is by joining Sanctuary Friends. We support the efforts of groups like Team OCEAN and their missions to keep plastics and other debris out of our oceans – and shockingly, out of the bellies of our seabirds. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps. Please consider becoming a part of the solution.
Cheers,
Dolly M. Garlo
SFFFK President
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| Upcoming Events |
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Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!
Nov. 13-15, Islamorada
Held in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Become an angler or improve your fishing skills in just one weekend! More information.
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The Story of Man's
Quest to Explore Under the Sea: Monthly Seminar Series
Nov. 18, History of Diving Museum, Islamorada
Third Wednesday of every month at 7 pm, featuring
fascinating speakers from around the world. Divers' Antique Road Show after
each seminar.
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Discovery Saturday - Marine Mammals
Nov. 21, 9:30 – 11:30 am, Eco-Discovery Center
Programs held the third Saturday of every month for children in
kindergarten through fifth grade.
Participants will learn about the characteristics that define a marine mammal and the underwater
communication techniques they use, as well as have the opportunity to make marine-themed crafts.
Attendance is free, and preregistration is recommended. Call 809-4750
to register.
Future dates and topics
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Coming ...
"Eco-Discovery Tours:
Discover the Florida Keys through eco-friendly and historical excursions."
Thousands of islands ... thousands of stories
The
Eco-Discovery Center and Sanctuary Friends team up to take visitors on
journeys that will teach them about the history and natural wonders of
the 1,700 islands that are called the Florida Keys.
Learn underwater photography from an instructor who knows the secrets
of the reef, experience the rich history of writers that have called
Key West their home, discover nature's beauty as you kayak under the
moon through canopied mangrove islands or share a gourmet dinner with
local chefs who are dedicated to using organic, local and Floridian
delights.
For more information, call 305-289-2288 or e-mail to request a brochure.
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EcoWeek 2010
Coming! Nov. 1-14, 2010
A Keys-wide event to educate and celebrate environmental preservation. Special activities in the Upper, Middle and Lower Keys. Inaugural event in 2010 to celebrate healthy living, a healthy planet and peaceable and sustainable communities. http://ecoweekfloridakeys.com
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Protection
for Deep Sea Coral Habitat
More than
23,000 square miles of complex deepwater corals located off the coasts of the
Carolinas, Georgia and eastern Florida likely will be protected by early 2010.
A protective measure advanced in September to safeguard
specific areas inhabited by coral species living in waters ranging from 1,200
to 2,300 feet deep, creating the largest deepwater coral protected area off the
Atlantic Coast.
The measure aims to shield these areas
from fishing practices that drag heavy gear across the sea floor and involved
working closely with golden crab and royal red shrimp fishermen and coral reef
experts to craft measures that allow continued fishing while ensuring these
coral areas, some of which are thousands of years old, are protected.
The South Atlantic region holds what the council
believes to be the largest contiguous distribution of deepwater corals in the
world, including the common Lophelia coral, largely responsible for reef mound
construction in these cold-water areas. Deep sea corals off the southeast coast
include hundreds of pinnacles up to 500 feet tall inhabited by a variety of
marine species, including sponges with unusual chemistry now being tested to
develop drugs for the treatment of cancer and heart disease. At the beginning
of the decade few people knew of the existence of these vast areas carpeted
with corals in deep waters off the South Atlantic coast.
Source: Environment News Service
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Our Mission
Sanctuary Friends Foundation of the Florida Keys supports the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) in the preservation, restoration, and sustainable use of our coral reef and marine ecosystems. We focus on development of community support and advancement of public awareness, education, outreach and scientific research.
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