Reef Relief is a non-profit organization based out of Key West, established in 1987. Since our inception, Reef Relief has fought tooth and nail to protect Florida Keys Water Quality. We have led campaigns, programs, and events to educate and inspire change within our community and worldwide.
In the past 36 years, we’ve had a series of triumphs including but not limited to introducing and installing the first mooring buoys in what is today known as the Florida Keys National Marine...
Reef Relief is a non-profit organization based out of Key West, established in 1987. Since our inception, Reef Relief has fought tooth and nail to protect Florida Keys Water Quality. We have led campaigns, programs, and events to educate and inspire change within our community and worldwide.
In the past 36 years, we’ve had a series of triumphs including but not limited to introducing and installing the first mooring buoys in what is today known as the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, fighting against several attempts at channel widening and dredging for larger ships, establishing several campaigns regarding plastic and sunscreen usage, removing over 218,000 lbs of marine debris, hosting a successful camp program, and teaching over 58,000 students on marine conservation topics.
However, despite our many achievements there have been failures to the reef. The largest one is right before our eyes known as the Marine Heat Wave. Historic ocean temperatures have led to widespread coral bleaching throughout the Florida Barrier Reef. Historic sea surface temperatures reaching over 100°F in several areas when we aren’t even in the hottest time of the year is a tough pill to swallow. This hot water has led to widespread bleaching in several areas along the reef tract. Coral bleaching is caused when ocean temperatures become too hot or too cold causing the coral animal to become stressed and expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae. This zooxanthellae provides the coral with 90% of its food and its color. Without the zooxanthellae, we can see through the clear polyps and the white limestone skeleton underneath is exposed. The coral can only survive a short amount of time without their zooxanthellae.
How did we get here? There is no denying that our reefs have been suffering for decades. A myriad of challenges has steadily declined the health of our reef for years. Challenges such as mainland run off, improper sewage treatment, septic tanks, excess nutrients, sargassum influxes, lack of storm drain filtration, harmful algal blooms, marine debris, various coral diseases, sedimentation, and so much more have consistently impacted the Florida Barrier Reef. For decades, scientists have begged people to address water quality concerns before it’s too late. Reef Relief has worked with several of these scientists to support their voice and communicate their message. That is not to say that others haven’t tried. Hard worked efforts to restore the reef through planting, redirecting waters, and improving facilities have been valiant. But unfortunately, our corals were still dying.
