1) A newspaper in Scotland called "Scotland" on Sunday will run an article
about a plan to introduce reef balls on The Coast of Arran.

2) In the first coral propagation and transplant project on the west coast
of Florida (and possibly the entire Gulf of Mexico) Manatee County
Artificial Reef Staff, Reef Ball Foundation Staff and Volunteers from the
Parrot Head Club completed Reef Ball Foundation coral propagation and
transplant training on Tuesday and Wed. of this week.  We added the
following corals to the Eternal Reef Deployment on 7 mile Reef South in
Manatee County.  A moment of silence was held at the conclusion of
transplanting in memory of the individuals in the memorial reef. The hard
corals were captive breed and propagated over a two-year period entirely in
the Reef Ball Research Aquarium tanks under a research permit from the FDEP.


Here is the record we have of the plantings.  Number tags identify each Reef
Ball and individual Eternal Reef Balls with plaques were also noted by name.
(Common, not scientific names used)

#328 One Purple Sea Whip
#324 Two Purple Sea Whips
#311 Nance B. McChesney 4 Purple Sea Whips, one Ivory Tree Hard Finger Coral
#309 One Ivory Tube Coral (Hard), one Ivory Tree Hard Finger Coral
#313 three Ivory Tree Hard Finger Corals
#307 Gerrud Havenga 4 Purple Sea Whips, one Ivory Tree Hard Finger Coral
# 312 two Ivory Tree Hard Finger Corals
# Unknown one Ivory Tree Hard Finger Coral
Main Plaque 2001 Community Reef one Ivory Tree Hard Finger Coral

Note: This was a volunteer project, Reef Innovations donated the Reef Ball
Epoxy and Reef Ball Foundation donated the training and boat transportation.

1) Stanford Development Group in Antigua will conduct a project through the Reef Ball Foundation to install approximately 2,000 Reef Balls around Maiden Island.  The project will include the largest ever coral propagation and transplant program.  This will create over 10,000 new coral colonies, including threatened Staghorn (A. cervicornis)  and Elkhorn corals (A. Palmata).   The Reef Balls will serve many purposes including protecting seagrasses from boating scars, stabilization of the island's beaches to create better conditions (less siltation) for corals and other marine life, and as substrate to create a richly diverse coral reef.  The Reef Ball Foundation has activated its Coral Propagation and Rescue Team that is a network of individuals throughout the world who have been trained in Reef Ball methods of coral propagation.  So far, 26 of the available pool of 100+ of these experts will be used in the project.  Additionally, Antigua's Optimist Club has offered local volunteers to assist in the effort and other volunteers from the community are expected to receive training in the methods to continue the work in other locations throughout Antigua.  An Oceanographer,  Alfredo Torruella, Ph.D. of the Caribbean Oceanography Group has selected the appropriate locations and sizes for the Reef Balls and Dr. Lee Harris of FIT is doing specialized engineering for the project which will include a variety of specialized anchoring techniques to fit the bottom characteristics of Maiden Island. Harold Hudson (A.K.A. “The Reef Doctor”)  has assisted the Foundation in providing specialized biological designs for "Layer Cake" and "Thicket" Reef Balls made using the Reef Ball molds and his unique molding techniques.  In total, the project will use 7 different sizes of Reef Balls of which there are 9 different styles and 5 different anchoring solutions.  Not only is this the most extensive use of all Reef Ball technologies, it will also be completed in record time.  Typically, a project of this size could take several years to complete due to complex oceanography, engineering, permitting, construction and deployment time.  For example, a similar project in Miami for the 63rd Hot Spot Reef Ball Project is already 2 years into engineering/permitting and it may be another year or two before it gets installed.  Stanford's project that formally started in Mid Sept., will be completed by the end of this year (and probably sooner) with any slippage in quality!  The Reef Ball molds used will be turned over at a record pace of 3-4 castings every 24 hours with construction crews working  24 hours per day.  Reef Ball Authorized Contractors including Caribbean Reef Ball Puerto Rico, Reef Innovations, Coastal Reef Builders, Inc., and Comsolida have all contributed resources for the construction efforts.  Other authorized contractors around the world are gearing up as backups to continue the normal supply of Reef Balls while these contractors are on-site in Antigua.  The Reef Ball Foundation wishes to formally thank Mr. Alan Stanford for his support of this project and efforts to create Marine Protected Areas in Antigua and throughout the Caribbean.  Mr. Stanford has instructed us to share our knowledge and techniques with local Caribbean talents so that Western Caribbean residents can continue projects like this in the region.  Therefore, we invite anyone from the region who is interested in volunteering in the transplanting and propagation efforts to join us.  Contact Johnwalc@aol.com to coordinate your volunteer time and available dates. 

 

2) Due to the extensive nature of Stanford's Antigua project, it may be difficult to reach Reef Ball staff members or they may be slow to respond.  Mold orders will be delayed by at least 3 additional weeks if placed during the month of Sept/Oct. time frames.  The best way to contact us is by email reefball@reefball.com.  We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause.