Reef Awareness Week July 21-28, 2002

[Deevon Quirolo]

Reef Awareness Week Set for July 21–27

Reef Awareness Week, Reef Relief’s annual celebration of coral reefs, will
be held the week of July 21-27th in the Florida Keys and online. This
year’s  theme is Celebrating the Key West Marine Park, a newly-established
area on the oceanside of Key West with no motor swim lanes and vessel access
lanes that provides a safe way to explore the nearshore waters of Key West.

Reef Awareness Week will  feature online events as well as activities
throughout the Florida Keys, including the Annual Reef Relief Membership
Meeting at the Casa Marina Resort on Tuesday, July 23 featuring Craig
Quirolo’s State of the Reef Address on the Bahamas Coral Nursery and a talk
on The Challenge to Elkhorn Coral Conservation in the Caribbean by Dr. James
Porter; a luncheon talk at Cheeca Lodge by Dr. Larry Brand on Black Water
event in the Keys:  Will it Happen Again? on Friday, July 26; a benefit
sunset sail hosted by Danger Charters; and the gala Jewel of the Sea Reef
Ball featuring music and dancing on Saturday, July 27th hosted by Kelly’s
Duval Beach Club in Key West.

“The Florida Keys is home to the third longest coral barrier reef in the
world, and the most heavily-visited. Coral reefs are important for many
reasons beyond the fact that they are home to more kinds of life than any
other ocean environment.  In the Florida Keys, the coral reefs are essential
to our commercial fishing and tourism economy, they provide habitat for many
endangered species, are a barrier to storm surge  and improve quality of
life by providing an ocean wilderness experience.  Finding ways to keep our
coral reefs alive and healthy is essential to our way of life.” noted DeeVon
Quirolo, Reef Relief’s Executive Director. “Reef Awareness Week gives
everyone an opportunity to get involved and learn more about our coral
reefs.”

Reef Awareness Week is sponsored by Gulfstream International Airlines, OMI,
Keys Federal Credit Union, Cove Point Foundation, Pier House, Wyndham Casa
Marina Resort, Cheeca Lodge, Solares Hill Newspaper, The Reporter, Keynoter,
Old Town Resorts, Banana Bay Resort, Hampton Inn Key West, Conch FM & US One
Radio, Clear Channel Radio, Keys Radio Group, Pikn 102.5, Sheraton Suites,
Conch House Heritage House, and Gingerbread Square Gallery.

For more information, to reserve space at the luncheon or Reef Ball,  or to
get involved as a volunteer or a sponsor, contact Reef Relief at (305)
294-3100, email reef at bellsouth.net or online at www.reefrelief.org.  Or drop
by the Reef Relief Environmental Center & Gift Shop at the Historic Seaport
at the foot of William Street in Key West, Fl.

DeeVon Quirolo, Executive Director, Reef Relief a non-profit grassroots
membership organization dedicated to Preserve and Protect Living Coral Reef
Ecosystems through local, regional and international efforts.  (305)
294-3100, P.O. Box 430, Key West, Fl. 33041
===========================================
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