Reef Ball Foundation Inc

TO REHABILITATE OUR WORLD'S OCEANREEF ECOSYSTEMS AND TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL REEF SYSTEMS USING REEF BALL ARTIFICIAL REEF TECHNOLOGIES. REEF BALLS ARE ARTIFICIAL REEF MODULES PLACED IN THE OCEAN TO FORM REEF HABITAT.

REEF BALL DEPLOYMENT IN PALM BEACH, FLORIDAWE CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH NO SHOES REEFS ("NSR") IN PROJECTS LIKE THIS ONE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA. "NO SHOES REEFS/REEF BALL FOUNDATION PARTNERED WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY REEFS, COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION FLORIDA, SANDOWAY DISCOVERY CENTER AND GLOBAL SUBDIVE TO DEPLOY 130,000 POUNDS OF GOLIATH REEF BALLS. THIS KICKS OFF DEVELOPMENT FOR A 32-ACRE UNDERWATER REEF PARK. NO SHOES REEFS AND REEF BALL FOUNDATION DONATED THE REEF BALLS ALONG WITH FOUR FLATBED TRAILERS TO TRANSPORT THE GO AMERICA VESSEL. FUNDS WERE SECURED FROM PROCEEDS OF ECO-FRIENDLY NO SHOES REEFS PRODUCTS WITH PARTNERS DEEP APPAREL, SILIPINT AND REPATRIOT FLAG. CONNECTICUT COLLEGE LIVING SHORELINEBIOLOGY PROFESSOR MARIA ROSA IS LEADING A TEAM OF STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS IN EFFORT TO BUILD REEF BALLS, HEMISPHERIC CONCRETE ARTIFICIAL REEFS THAT, ONCE INSTALLED, WILL TURN CONN'S RIVERFRONT INTO A SUSTAINABLE AQUATIC HABITAT AND LIVING LABORATORY. IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS A HABITAT FOR LOCAL FISH, CRABS AND OTHER MARINE LIFE, THE REEF BALLS WILL HELP REBUILD THE SHORELINE BY MINIMIZING EROSION AND PROMOTING THE GROWTH OF PLANTS. THEY WILL ALSO CREATE A PROTECTIVE BARRIER IN THE WATER THAT MINIMIZES WAVE ACTION AND PROTECTS AN EXISTING RETAINING WALL AND CONN'S ROWING AND SAILING DOCKS. THIS LIVING SHORELINE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE FOR STUDENT AND FACULTY RESEARCH. "IT'S A GREAT HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS, AND THEY FEEL A REAL OWNERSHIP OF THE PROJECT," ROSA SAID, ADDING THAT MANY OF THE STUDENTS HAVE WRITTEN THEIR NAMES IN THE CONCRETE. MALAYSIASEMATAN: SARAWAK IS CONTINUING TO DEPLOY ARTIFICIAL REEF BALLS IN ITS COASTAL WATERS TO CONSERVE MARINE LIFE AND IMPROVE THE INCOME OF FISHERMEN. CHIEF MINISTER DATUK PATINGGI ABANG JOHARI TUN OPENG SAID THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAD ALLOCATED RM70MIL TO DEPLOY 16,800 REEF BALLS ALONG THE ENTIRE COAST FROM TANJUNG DATU TO LAWAS. ABANG JOHARI SAID THE ARTIFICIAL REEF BALLS NOT ONLY PROTECTED MARINE LIFE BUT CREATED A HABITAT FOR FISH.HE SAID SURVEYS IN BELAWAI, IGAN AND MUKAH SHOWED THAT THE LOCAL FISHERMEN'S CATCH AND INCOME HAD INCREASED SINCE REEF BALLS WERE DEPLOYED IN THE AREA LAST YEAR.NO SHOES REEFS PARTNERSHIPNSR FINDS PARTNERS TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR REEF BALL PROJECTS BY SELLING PRODUCTS MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC, SUCH AS T-SHIRTS. PARTNERS INCLUDE THE COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION, BUILDING CONSERVATION TRUST, DEEP APPAREL, SILIPINT, ETC. COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION IN MARYLANDNUMEROUS PROJECTS WITH CCA IN MARYLAND INCLUDING A MAPPING PROJECT OF REEF BALLS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY-SEE BELOW. BY WORKING WITH EDUCATORS, WE COLLECTIVELY PROVIDE A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING FOR STUDENTS. THE BUILDING CONCRETE REEF BALLS, WHICH ARE LATER SEEDED WITH OYSTER SPAT AND DEPLOYED IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY TO CREATE NEW THREE-DIMENSIONAL REEF STRUCTURES, PROVIDES A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS INTO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OYSTER IN THE REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM.MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES-FRESH WATER REEF BALL PROJECTSSEVERAL REEF BALL "MOLDS" WERE PURCHASED AS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FRESHWATER FISHERIES AND THE MARYLAND PARK SERVICE THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE STATE LAKES PROTECTION AND RESTORATION FUND. THE MOLDS WILL ALLOW STAFF TO BUILD AND DEPLOY LARGE NUMBERS OF REEF BALLS INTO DEEP CREEK LAKE, ST. MARY'S LAKE, AND OTHER IMPOUNDMENTS IN PERPETUITY. ALTHOUGH HEAVY AND CUMBERSOME, CONCRETE REEF BALLS DO NOT DEGRADE LIKE WOOD STRUCTURES AND RESIST THE IMPACTS OF SILTATION DUE TO THEIR HEIGHT. THEY SHOULD PROVIDE GOOD JUVENILE AND ADULT FISH HABITAT FOR DOZENS OF YEARS INTO THE FUTURE. ADDITIONALLY, 150 REEF BALLS WERE DEPLOYED AS INDICATED ON MAP BELOW.KENTUCKY FRESH WATER PROJECTSCONTINUATION OF OUR PROJECT IN KENTUCKY. REEF BALLS FOR FRESH WATER PROJECTS WHICH IS A NEWER APPLICATION FOR REEF BALL TECHNOLOGY. THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS SHORE EROSION AND FISH HABITAT LOSS AT NOLIN RIVER LAKE., KDFW IS COLLABORATING WITH THE CORPS ON THE SHORELINE RESTORATION & FISH HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, WHICH WILL BE FUNDED WITH A $30,000 GRANT FROM THE RESERVOIR FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIP, SHIFLET SAID. AFRICA-TANZANIAOUR PARTNER IN ZANZIBAR, MWAMBAO COASTAL COMMUNITY NETWORK CONTINUES TO EXPAND THEIR REEF BALL PROGRAM FROM ZANZIBAR TO MAINLAND TANZANIA. FROM PROJECTS FOR FISHING COMMUNITIES TO CORAL REEF RESTORATION SITES.BAHAMAS: PARADISE COVE, DEADMAN'S REEF, GRAND BAHAMA ISLANDIN PARTNERSHIP WITH NO SHOES REEFS WE CONTINUED OUR REEF BALL PROJECT AT PARADISE COVE WITH TRAINING, BUILDING REEF BALLS, CORAL TRANSPLANTS AND RESEARCH. INCLUDING ASSISTANCE TO OUR LOCAL PARTNER AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HURRICANE.CANADA: THE CLEAN FOUNDATION & GHOST GEAR DISAPPEARTHE CLEAN FOUNDATION CONTINUES THEIR PROJECT IN THE HALIFAX HARBOR AS PART OF A MITIGATION PROJECT TO HELP RESTORE THE MARINE LIFE. IT IS ONE OF THE DEEPEST HARBORS IN THE WORLD. THEY ARE NOW EXPANDING REEF BALLS TO OTHER AREAS. ADDITIONALLY, ANOTHER PROJECT WAS STARTED IN CANADA WITH GHOST GEAR DISAPPEAR FOR A VARIETY OF HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS. PHILIPPINES: MASBATE REEF BALL PROJECTCONTINUED EXPANSION OF OUR REEF BALL PROJECT IN THE PHILIPPINES. FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES- MGB REGION 5IN LINE WITH THIS EVENT AND CONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION THAT RECOGNIZES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE TO PROTECT THE NATION'S MARINE WEALTH, THE MASBATE GOLD PROJECT IN AROROY, MASBATE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE MINES AND GEOSCIENCES BUREAU REGIONAL OFFICE NO. V HAS PARTNERED WITH THE MUNICIPALITY OF AROROY TO ESTABLISH THE COLORADA MARINE PROTECTED AREA (CMPA) IN SITIO COLORADA, BARANGAY TIGBAO, AROROY, MASBATE THRU MUNICIPAL ORDER NO. 031-2017 SIGNED LAST SEPTEMBER 12, 2017. THE PROJECT AIMS TO REVIVE THE CORAL COVER AROUND THE COASTAL COMMUNITY OF PORT BARERA IN AROROY, MASBATE; TO HELP AROROY'S MARINE RESOURCES RECOVER AND TO PROVIDE LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, COMMUNITY, AND PRIVATE SECTOR. THE PROJECT SITE HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF HUMAN NEGLECT AND ABUSE. FORTUNATELY, HOWEVER, AS OF JANUARY 2021, A TOTAL OF 2,203 REEF BALLS DEPLOYED SINCE 2017 AND 1,603 REEF BALLS ARE OFF FOR DEPLOYMENT WITH AN APPROXIMATELY OF 23,100 CORALS PROPAGATED. THIS EXEMPLARY MOVE WILL IMPROVE THE FISH POPULATION IN REEF BALLS DEPLOYMENT SITES. HOWEVER, THIS PROJECT NEEDS A CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LGU-AROROY TO STRENGTHEN MANAGEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE SAID MARINE PROTECTED AREA. THIS YEAR'S MONTH OF THE OCEAN'S THEME: "THE SCIENCE WE NEED FOR THE OCEAN WE WANT" HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE AS A RELIABLE METHOD TO ADDRESS THE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, MARINE POLLUTION, LOSS OF MARINE SPECIES AND MARINE DEGRADATION."CONFERENCES & OUTREACH: WE WERE STILL SOMEWHAT LIMITED FOR CONFERENCES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, SO WE ATTENDED CONFERENCES BY VIDEO WHEN NEEDED. REEF BALL TEAM MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN COVID SAFE OUTDOOR EVENTS FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OUR WORKED APPEARED IN VARIOUS SCIENTIFIC PAPERS AND MEDIA OUTLETS AROUND THE GLOBE.