ABOUT THE CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION

The Coral Restoration Foundation Inc. (CRF) is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to creating offshore nurseries and restoration programs for threatened coral species. Tens of thousands of corals are grown and maintained in multiple offshore nurseries. After a year in the nursery, corals are outplanted to a degraded reef. With the help of students, volunteers, scientists, dive operators, public aquariums, and community groups, thousands of corals grown in CRF’s nurseries have already been planted on our coral reefs.

ABOUT KEN NEDIMYER

Ken Nedimyer started the Coral Restoration Foundation to bring life back to endangered reefs in the Florida Keys. As a commercial fisherman and tropical fish collector, Nedimyer worked in the ocean nearly every day, and noticed the drastic decline of two of regions most important corals—the elkhorn and staghorn. Recognizing the importance of coral reefs in providing protection for our coastal areas, habitat for fish and marine economies, it became his consuming passion to protect and restore coral reefs. Through his Coral Restoration Foundation, Nedimyer has grown more than 25,000 elkhorn and staghorn coral in underwater nurseries that cover more than an acre of ocean floor. For his tireless work in restoring our reefs, Nedimyer was named a CNN Hero in 2012.

Dear Member,

Ocean Reef Club understands how important our beautiful Florida Keys location is to you. You’ve overwhelming indicated that the marine environment is one of your top reasons for choosing to join our Club. That’s why we’re embarking on the important restoration of Carysfort Reef. Two of our region’s most important corals—elkhorn and staghorn—are in drastic decline, and are, in fact, on the endangered species list. A Key Largo nonprofit, Coral Restoration Foundation, has been successfully growing and transplanting corals for more than a decade throughout the Keys, the Caribbean and South America. Ocean Reef Club and the Ocean Reef Conservation Association are proud to partner with Coral Restoration Foundation for this restoration project that would grow and plant 12,000 staghorn and 3,000 elkhorn over the next 5 years. We’ve enclosed information that explains the process, and also gives you to opportunity to be part of this restoration by “adopting” a coral. While the Coral Restoration Foundation is able to complete this project with its own staff and volunteers, this is a wonderful opportunity for community involvement. Members and their families can be trained to both plant and maintain the corals. Working together, we can help the Keys’ ecosystem recover in our lifetime. The founder of Coral Restoration Foundation, Ken Nedimyer, will be at Ocean Reef Club on December 26 for an informational lecture and answer questions about this vital restoration of Carysfort Reef. More information will be provided closer to the event. We hope you will join for what promises to be an inspiring and engaging evening.

Jack Curlett, PresidentOcean Reef Conservation Association

Paul M.G. Astbury, PresidentOcean Reef Club

A PARTNERSHIP TOPRESERVE OUR REEF

The Ocean Reef Conservation Association and Ocean Reef Club are proud to partner with the Coral Restoration Foundation in a conservation initiative to restore Carysfort Reef.

Two of the Keys’ most important corals—staghorn and elkhorn—are in dramatic decline, and are now on the endangered species list. The Coral Restoration Foundation is leading the development of new nurseries and restoration techniques. With their help, our goal is to plant 12,000 staghorn and 3,000 elkhorn at Carysfort Reef.

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN BECOMING A PARTNER IN THIS CONSERVATION EFFORT.

OCEAN REEF CONSERVATIONASSOCIATION

ADOPT A CORAL AND WATCH IT GROW FOR A YEAR IN THE CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION’S NURSERY AT CARYSFORT REEF. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE DIVE SHOP WILL COORDINATE DIVE BOATS FROM OCEAN REEF

CLUB TO THE NURSERIES, SO THAT MEMBERS CAN SEE THE AMAZING CORAL GROWTH IN PROGRESS.

Each adopter will receive a certificate of adoption, full color online photo growth updates& sharable links for friends and family, so that everyone can watch your coral grow.

You may adopt a general staghorn or elkhorn coral, or personalize a tag with yourname for a staghorn coral or an entire staghorn tree nursery at Carysfort Reef:

Adopt online: www.oceanreefconservationassociation.org

Family Planting TripStaghorn Tree Nursery

$5,000

IndividualStaghorn

$250

IndividualElkhorn$500

Personally IdentifiedStaghorn Cluster

$1,000

Adopt a Coral