An underwater nursery grows staghorn coral, listed as threatened on the endangered species list.
Preventing the release of toxins that prohibit growth, Julian Sprung, marine biologist and author,
cleans algae from the concrete blocks where the coral grows. Above him, broken pieces of staghorn
coral grows on lines, waiting for the right moment to be planted on a reef. Ken Nedimyer is the
founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation, a non-profit project to restore coral to the depleted reefs off of Key Largo
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
Thirty feet below the ocean a nursery of coral grows protected in concrete blocks.
Volunteers from Plantation based Florida Marine Aquarium Society and locals
work with work with Ken Nedimyer, the founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation,
to restore coral to reefs off of Key Largo.
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
A hogfish swims past Pedro Riera of Fort Lauderdale, a volunteer from Plantation based Florida Marine
Aquarium Society, as he cleans algae from staghorn coral in the underwater nursery in 30 feet of water.
Riera says of cleaning coral, "It was great, I have an aquarium at home so it was like my own corals at
home, so it was fun to see my new friends as well, all kinds of various fish picking at the algae as it
came loose. But being out there in the world it was much bigger with a lot more water. I'd love to be
able to get more involved."
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
Strings of staghorn coral grow faster hanging on lines in an ocean nursery, numbered and waiting for the right
moment to be planted on a reef.
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
Permits allow 20 new genotypes of coral to be added to create diversity on the reef. These found broken
pieces are numbered and hang on lines for optimal survival in the nursery before being planted on the reef
with hopes of cross-fertilization.
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
Volunteers from Plantation based Florida Marine Aquarium Society and locals work with work with
Ken Nedimyer, the founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation, as he ties broken coral to a line for
optimal growth in preparation to restore coral to reefs off of Key Largo.
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
Coral broken off by a diver, shark or turtle is carried to a site on Molasses Reef to be replanted.
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
Julian Sprung, marine biologist, author, long-time member of FMAS and co-founder of Two Little Fishies
aquarium products, uses tools to scrape clear a new home for a small bit of staghorn coral.
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
A staghorn coral only a few centimeters long is planted on Molasses Reef with marine epoxy.
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
Over a dozen volunteers gather and disperse to plant coral. The Coral Restoration Foundation has a
government grant only until the end of 2011. They are trying to gain community support to keep the project going.
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
Ken Nedimyer, the founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation, monitors staghorn coral off Molasses Reef.
Nedimyer says of the coral he helps restore to depleted reefs, "Everyone of them is one of my little children.
I love them. It's something that I thought I'd never see again. To see it and have a part in bringing it back is
really, really rewarding."
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
A diver swims away from Molasses Reef after a staghorn coral planting. Ken Nedimyer observed about
1,500 of the threatened coral growing on this reef, having started from only six coral about seven years
ago. He says of the success, "I feel like I have value now, like my life has purpose."
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
Certified SCUBA divers are encouraged to volunteer with the Coral Restoration Foundation at http://www.coralrestoration.org.
(Carey Wagner, Sun Sentinel / August 7, 2010)
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