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Tag: mini reef

Reel Time: The Center, clean and green

Reel Time: The Center, clean and green

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Algae, Outdoors, Red tide, Reel Time.

The Center of Anna Maria Island has long been a valuable resource for the citizens and visitors to the Island. In 2019, under the leadership of the Center’s executive director, Chris Culhane, and the director of development, Jim McDaniel, the Center officially added an environmental dimension to its mission in response to the 18-month red tide that devastated the Island’s marine resources and local businesses.

In 2019, after a conversation with Island entrepreneur and Manatee County environmental leader Ed Chiles, The Center began a relationship with Ocean Habitats Inc., the designer and builder of Mini Reefs. To date, almost 200 units have been distributed and are annually filtering more than two billion gallons of water and helping provide habitat for the new growth of an estimated 54,000 fish and 36,000 crabs.

The Center branded its annual fund that year as “Go Green” and hosted Philippe Cousteau, son of the legendary marine explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau, as its campaign kick-off speaker. Cousteau develops relationships with The Center and its patrons at Beach Bistro.

In 2020, the Center’s crop of Mini Reefs grew to more than 150 units. Philippe Cousteau came back that year to introduce the Center’s “Go Green 2” campaign keynote speakers from Clearwater Marine Research Institute, Dr. James “Buddy” Powell and Dr. Ann Mari Alvarez. Third-grader Addy Du Toit interviewed Cousteau before his introduction and shares her passion to protect the environment by having students in local schools trade in their plastic toothbrushes for bamboo brushes. Cousteau fell in love with Addy, as has the community. Addy has also put up recycling receptacles in The Center and spoken to children in the Beyond The Classroom afterschool program. That same year Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria participated in Mini Reef installations at the Bradenton Beach Pier and AMI Historical Society docks.

In 2021, the Center continued growing its initiative in a newly designated lab space. Grants are awarded to the Center to support the initiative from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Manatee Community Foundation, the AMI Chamber of Commerce and private donors. The initiative also partnered with the Blue Waters Coalition, an organization that includes citizen-science groups from the Siesta Key Association and the city of Venice. The Center coordinates visits from these groups and schedules them on data gathering outings and training sessions with the support of Eckerd College’s marine science program, its students and teacher Dr. Jorge Angulo.

Each group has installed Mini Reefs and is developing data gathering with the same data points and methods for future collaboration between sites in a group study to be developed in 2022-23. The Center has events planned between Nov. 21 and Jan. 14 that have members of the community engaged in supporting their environment such as:

  • Citizen-science participation in Bimini Bay Initiative
  • Center beach cleanups on the first Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. Volunteers gather at the Center.
  • A community scavenger hunt
  • Holiday turtle painting decoration

The Center has an ambitious plan for the future and has programs for all Island residents. Stay tuned for more environmentally focused advocacy, and join the initiative at www.centerami.org.

Reef project helps filter local waters

City creates adopt-a-reef program

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners support The Center of Anna Maria Island’s mini reef project, however, budgetary concerns have them hoping that residents will donate to purchase a reef instead of the city spending tax dollars.

Commissioners Kim Rash, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek voted to institute an adopt-a-reef program to help further the request of The Center’s Director of Development, Jim McDaniel, for 20 mini reefs.

The project would place the reefs in the waters around Anna Maria Island, primarily underneath city-owned docks, at a cost of $7,300. After hearing from McDaniel, commissioners discussed the prospect of buying the requested reefs. While they said they consider the project a worthwhile endeavor to help clean the waters around the Island, with the budget constraints the city is already facing in the coming fiscal year, they didn’t feel that the added expense was one they could bear.

After consulting with City Treasurer Lori Hill, commissioners discovered that they couldn’t use funds donated by the estate of Billie Martini for the purchase, and decided that they also couldn’t in good conscience use taxpayer ad valorem funds, which are forecast to be less than what the city needs in the coming fiscal year. The adopt-a-reef program was a compromise, putting the approval of Holmes Beach city leaders behind the project without committing any city funds.

Under the adopt-a-reef program, Holmes Beach residents, business owners and other community members are encouraged to adopt one of the reefs, to be placed in approved spots underneath city-owned docks. The reefs are $365 each to purchase, which includes the reef and installation by Ocean Habitats as well as a donation to The Center.

Mayor Judy Titsworth said that while she appreciates what The Center is trying to do for the community and its waters with the mini reef project, she’s more in favor of seeding clams or scallops which leaves no unnatural products in the water and also works to clear the water of contaminants. She also expressed concern that installing the reefs underneath the city-owned T-end docks might dissuade people from wanting to rent the docks for their boats. She also worried that the floating mini reefs might rub up against boats.

Commissioner Pat Morton agreed that he would prefer a natural solution to local water issues instead of supporting the reef project. Commissioner Kim Rash said that while he supports a natural approach, he also supports what The Center is doing and that they have a solution being implemented now. Commissioner Jim Kihm said that he shared some of the mayor’s reservations, particularly when there are other options available.

To donate to The Center’s reef project, visit the website or contact the nonprofit at 941-778-1908.

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Reef project helps filter local waters

 

Mini reefs installed at Mar Vista

Mini reefs installed at Mar Vista

Mini reefs installed at Mar Vista

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Environment, Featured, Outdoors, Red tide.

LONGBOAT KEY – Ten mini reefs installed Friday under the docks at Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant will help fight red tide, START Director Sandy Gilbert said.

The structures improve water clarity and increase oxygen levels in the water, he said, adding, “They will show people they can make a difference.”

Mini reefs installed at Mar Vista
The mini reef cleans more than 30,000 gallons of water daily, according to Ocean Habitats. – Cindy Lane | Sun

START – Solutions To Avoid Red Tide – and Lucky’s Market in Sarasota funded the 10 mini reefs, which can clean more than 30,000 gallons of water daily and grow more than 300 fish and 200 crabs annually, said David Wolff, president of Ocean Habitats, who installed the mini reefs.

The lightweight structures float underneath docks, where they are tethered out of the way of boats, he said, adding that the mini reefs do not require state permits to install.

Besides attracting fish, the reefs also attract oysters, which themselves filter water, and a bonus for dock owners – dolphins that feed on the fish, Gilbert said.

Mini reefs installed at Mar Vista
David Wolff, president of Ocean Habitats, prepares a mini reef for installation at Mar Vista docks Friday. – Cindy Lane | Sun

“We’re very excited to be a test market,” said Chuck Wolfe, CEO of The Chiles Group, owner of Mar Vista. “The docks are a big part of our business.”

Most of the more than 2,000 mini reefs in Florida are under residential docks, but START is working to expand their use by businesses, and lobbying local officials to encourage their use.

The mini reefs, which sell for $250 apiece, can last decades, Wolff said. A 10% discount is available at Ocean Habitats with the code START10.

Mini reefs installed at Mar Vista
The mini reefs are tied underneath a dock, where they float and attract marine life. – Cindy Lane | Sun