Coral reefs are the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems on earth. They deserve protection for their intrinsic natural value, yet more than 30% of the world's coral reefs have been destroyed and another 40% are at risk. Coral reefs provide economic, tourism, fishing and recreational benefits. Although climatic and geological changes affect them, human activities have had far greater consequences over the past decade. Coral reefs are vulnerable to physical impacts, overharvesting, habitat loss, water quality decline from pollution, and global climate change.

Reef Relief seeks to:
* Increase public awareness of the importance and value of living coral reef ecosystems;
* Increase scientific understanding and knowledge of living coral reef ecosystems;
* Strengthens grassroots, community-based efforts to protect living coral reef ecosystems;
* Encourages and supports reef-friendly business activities as part of sustainable community development that protects and preserves coral reef ecosystems;
* Works to strengthen our organizational ability to carry out this mission.

Reef Relief is focused on four program areas:
* Marine Projects: Founder Craig Quirolo documents reef health from the Coral Photo Monitoring Survey. Images from the ongoing survey of coral reefs in Florida and the Caribbean can be accessed via an Online Archive at www.reefrelief.org. Numerous short videos of these same reefs have been produced and loaded onto Youtube. Quirolo's study of the images from the 17-year survey have led to the discovery of new coral diseases in collaboration with the Reef Relief Scientific Advisory Board.
* Coral Reef Conservation Program: Reef Relief's environmental education program increases awareness of the importance of coral reefs through a multimedia grassroots effort that includes operation of the Reef Relief Environmental Center in Key West, an extensive website at www.reefrelief.org, the Discovery Coral Reefs School Program for 4th grade students in the Florida Keys, Teacher Kits and Guides for educators, and targeted campaigns for select audiences such as divers, boaters, fishermen, residents and visitors to coral reefs. The Clean Water Campaign guides policymaking to improve water quality for coral reefs, especially improved sewage treatment that includes nutrient removal since corals can tolerate only minute levels of phosphates and nitrates. Headquarters are in Key West, one of the only public learning facilities in the world dedicated to coral reefs.
* International Projects: Reef Relief provides information and onsite training to grassroots organizations and communities around the world involved in launching coral reef protection programs. Past projects include Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Guanana/Bay Islands/Honduras, Mexico, St. Kitts and the Bahamas.

Reef Relief operates the Capt. Roland Roberts Environmental Center as a public educational facility in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas. The center features a classroom, activity room for children, library catering to boaters and visitors, and offices for Reef Relief volunteer docents, who provide guided tours of the facility, an aluminum recycling program, a green bag project and a Bush Native Garden. In previous years 18 reef mooring buoys were installed at coral reefs around Green Turtle Cay and a coral nursery established to salvage storm-damaged coral at nearby Noname Cay. The Capt. Roland Roberts House is a historical circa 1840 house that was recently restored by the local Architectural Historical Foundation.

These programs are supported by a growing membership, foundation support, donations of goods, equipment and time, and fundraising events such as the annual Holiday Online Auction. The annual membership meeting is in Key West on June 17th, 2008, this year and includes induction of new board members and announcement of the board of directors goals for the coming year.

Reef Relief is a 501©(3) grassroots membership organization dedicated to Preserve and Protect Living Coral Reef Ecosystems. It is headquartered in Key West, Florida, home to North America’s only living coral barrier reef.

The biologically rich and diverse coral reefs of the Florida Keys comprise the 3rd longest coral barrier reef in the world, but are among the most endangered.  This is the biggest dive destination in the world, home to the world’s largest charterboat fleet and the biggest cruise ship destination in the U.S.  and the most registered private boats in Florida.   

Since 1987, Reef Relief has launched grassroots efforts that have helped reduce these monumental impacts and added significant protection for coral reefs.  Our strategies have been shared with communities around the globe, increasing the ability of others to sustain healthy coral reefs while still benefiting from them in so many ways. Our comprehensive approach of environmental education, policy guidance and direct action on the reef has resulted in multi-year successes, yet we are hard-pressed to say our job is done.

The tourism and commercial fishing industries of the Florida Keys and other tropical areas are dependant upon the health of coral reefs.  Coral reefs in the Florida Keys are affected by multiple impacts including pollution that has caused coral diseases, algal blooms and water quality decline; over-harvesting and harmful fishing activities, physical impacts from heavy use; storm damage, and now sea temperature rise.  

The good news is there are solutions to each of these problems, but it takes concerted focus to build public understanding and support for each solution.  Some solutions involves lifestyle changes, perhaps the most difficult strategy.  Connecting people to the fate of coral reefs lies in identifying the connection between these underwater worlds and our personal well being and quality of life.  People protect what they love.  Reef Relief’s goal is to increase awareness and support for coral reefs so that we protect our food, quality of life, and economy with healthy coral reefs, clean ocean waters, and abundant fisheries, now and for future generations.  

Reef Relief was incorporated in Florida as a not for profit corporation in 1987 with headquarters in Key West. It was founded by charterboat captain Craig Quirolo, one of the first to take visitors out to see Key West’s coral reefs on his sailboat.  He began to notice the damage where anchors were dropped on the reef and organized other captains on the dock to launch an effort that led to the installation of 116 reef mooring buoys to prevent anchor damage to the heavily-visited coral reefs near Key West and the founding of Reef Relief as a nonprofit membership organization.   

Next came an effort to educate boaters, divers, fishermen, and then residents, businesses, students and policymakers on how to protect coral reefs.  Reef Relief has created coral nurseries to save storm-damaged corals in the Florida Keys and Bahamas.  It has surveyed coral reefs near Key West and throughout the Caribbean, leading to the discovery of new coral diseases and studies into their causes in cooperation with our scientific advisory board.  We’ve supported efforts to create marine protected areas throughout the Caribbean. Our policy guidance has resulted in adoption of advanced wastewater and stormwater treatment and no discharge zones for boater sewage in the Florida Keys that is a model for coral reefs around the world.     

Reef Relief was a founding member of the Coral Reef Coalition to build support for establishment of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.  Founder Craig Quirolo was the only environmentalist to testify before the Senate Committee in support of creation of the sanctuary.  Reef Relief’s DeeVon Quirolo served as the coalition’s first coordinator and organized its conference resulting in companion legislation and a speedy one year Congressional approval of the sanctuary legislation.    

In 2002, Reef Relief established the Captain Roberts House Environmental Center in Green Turtle Cay, in the fast growing Abacos, Bahamas. The center features an aluminum recycling program, a native bush medicine garden, sale of “green” bags to replace plastics, a mooring buoy program and coral survey. It is entirely staffed by volunteer docents and local volunteers.  

Today, Reef Relief provides extensive environmental education on coral reefs to a diverse local, regional and international community. A multi-year survey of coral reefs to improve coral reef health features an Online Archive of reef images at www.reefrelief.org.  The Clean Water Campaign improves water quality for coral reefs, such as this year’s Florida legislation to phase out ocean outfalls on coral reefs in South Florida.  The Reef Relief Environmental Center in Key West hosts educational programs such as Coral Camp, the Discover Coral Reefs School Program, and welcomes visitors from all over the world who learn about coral reefs and their protection through interactive exhibits and displays, a theatre, children’s activities, and guided tours.  

Reef Relief has trained volunteers and helped launched similar grassroots coral reef conservation programs in Negril, Jamaica; Guanaja, Bay Islands, Honduras; Puerto Rico; Mexico; Cuba; and the Bahamas.

go to www.reefrelief.org