<=Back

(December 2000)

REEFBALL UPDATE: Why Marine Reserves?

By Todd Barber, President & CEO, Reef Ball Foundation, Inc.

    The Reef Ball Foundation, Inc. and the Reef Ball Foundation has been carefully studying the science and the politics of Marine Reserves. The concept is quite simple, set aside portions of our world's oceans as no-take/ replenishment zones. There are a number of compelling reasons to do so:
    1) Science has shown that this can actually increase the amount of fish available even outside the zones.
    2) Biodiversity and genetic populations can be preserved.
    3) They serve as control zones for study and as a preserve for the next generations.
    4) They serve as an "insurance policy" against poor management choices.
    And a hundred other good reasons why. The only debate is how many reserves we need and where to place them. It is our observation that NOW IS THE TIME TO MOVE ON THIS the politics and the science finally agree!
    Reef Ball is challenging every organization, political and individual to show their support for the concept of Marine Reserves anywhere worldwide. We don't want to get bogged down in taking sides on individual site selections or in determining how much might be too much; we just want to show broad support for Marine Reserves.
    To emphasize our challenge, the Reef Ball Foundation will provide Reef Ball molds through our grant program to any project that will use the Reef Balls within a protected marine reserve. We already have support from many organizations, such as the Recreational Fishing Alliance, and we are looking for others to join us in our support of marine reserves. Contact the Reef Ball Foundation at 770-752-0202 or e-mail kkirbo@hotmail.com if you would like to get active with our foundation on this issue. Thanks in advance for helping us to preserve our world's ocean ecosystems!

MAKE DONATIONS TO REEF BALL FOUNDATION
AS YOU DO YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING


    The Reef Ball Foundation has been accepted as a Greater Good Partner, so you can now start your online shopping from our web site and up to 15% of all your purchases will be automatically donated to the Reef Ball Foundation. Just go to www.reefball.org and click the Greater Good link. (Note: you must start from here each time you shop to ensure that donations are credited to the Reef Ball Foundation.)


Visit The Reef Ball website at www.reefball.com
for more interesting facts about Reef Balls.
Visit The Reef Ball Foundation website at:
www.reefball.org


Todd Barber stands atop a couple of Reef Balls.

<=Back