SW F Fishing News Nov 2000 The Reef Ball Foundation, The Reef Ball Development
Group, Reef Innovations, Sarasota County Marine
Resources Division, The National Estuary Program and The
School In The Park are teaming up to offer Reef Balls for
residents that own docks in Sarasota and perhaps Manatee
County. The school kids will do the public awareness
campaigns, help the dock owners determine if their dock is
suitable for Reef Balls and take orders for the Reef Balls. Moneys will be collected by the Reef Ball
Foundation so that fees charged for the reefs will be a charitable contribution so that they can be
deducted on taxes. The Reef Ball Foundation will then subcontract with Reef Innovations to do the
actual construction and deployment of the Reef Balls. The National Estuary Program (NEP) is offering
the school an additional grant of up to $5,000 to help develop the community awareness brochures and
to help get the word out to residents. Both Sarasota County Marine Resources Division and the NEP are
helping the kids to obtain the necessary permissions so that the resident dock owners don't have to do
any of the paperwork themselves. The remainder of the money after construction and deployment will
be donated to the School In The Park where the kids will manage the money themselves to go on
educational trips, etc.
Reef Ball sends a special thanks to Nicole Park (marine biology teacher at School In The Park), Mark
Alderson of the NEP, Mike Solum of Sarasota County Marine Resources and Larry Beggs of Reef
Innovations for their contributions of time to help get this project started. The Reef Ball Foundation
hopes that this program will serve as a model for other schools around the state.
From International Reality Consultant's Website: Estero Bay's Ecosystem and the Reef Ball Artificial
reefs being deployed all over the world to foster vegetation and boost fish populations may be just what
Estero Bay needs to rejuvenate its natural habitat. The concrete-textured buoy designed with varioussized
holes allows life to cling to its surface and the holes increase circulation, mimicking a natural reef.
Reef Balls would promote plant and sea life for the failing estuary and if used around imbedded channel
markers would help keep the markers from being dislodged when they are hit by boats. Collier County's
Division of Natural Resources Management is just beginning to look into the possibility of utilizing the
Reef Ball programs for the waterways which have experienced environmental destruction through storm
Water run-off.
Reef Ball gave a presentation on October 6th to Classroom On Wheels. Over 40 Sarasota area seniors
gathered for the presentation and tour of the Reef Ball construction facilities. Two more presentations
are scheduled for the Classroom on November 29th - 30th. Seniors interested in attending should contact
the Classroom On Wheels program (Brenda) at or 922 - 0817.
Manatee County received notice of a grant award for Reef Balls for the 3-mile south reef offshore.
The project will start its planning phases this winter......
