5 Things You Need to Know About the World’s Biggest Coral Restoration Event: Coralpalooza™ 2019

 

Coral reefs around the world are in peril. But one extraordinary event is demonstrating that by working together, we have the power to bring them back from the brink of extinction.

If you care about life in the oceans, and life on Earth, then you need to know about Coralpalooza™. Here is the low down.

 

  1. An army of SCUBA divers will be physically restoring degraded coral reefs

Over two days, an army of ocean lovers will be heading into the oceans out to actively restore coral reefs.

Recreational scuba divers will be joining experienced coral restoration practitioners in the water, physically outplanting critically endangered corals to degraded reefs, halting and reversing their decline.

Roxane Boonstra, Coral Restoration Foundation™ Dive and Volunteer Coordinator, explains why Coralpalooza™ is so powerful; “Coralpalooza™ is a way for all ocean lovers, whether on land or in the water, to unite to prevent the loss of our coral reefs. By working together in this 48-hour period, this massive, coordinated, tangible action sends a message of hope for coral reefs from the Florida Keys to the rest of the world!”

  1. It happens on World Oceans Day every year.

On World Oceans Day every year, hundreds of people gather to demonstrate the impact of collaborative action. This year Coralpalooza™ takes place on June 7 & 8, 2019 in the Florida Keys and beyond.

It’s possibly the most tangible way for everyone to celebrate saving life in the seas. This year will be the 5th Annual Coralpalooza™, and it’s shaping up to be the biggest and best one yet!

  1. It’s coordinated by Coral Restoration Foundation™

Coral Restoration Foundation™ is the largest coral restoration organization in the world! They have been restoring reefs in Florida for 12 years, and have now returned more than 80,000 critically endangered corals back to the Florida Reef Tract.

Coral Restoration Foundation™ invented the world-famous Coral Tree – a simple, cost effective technology that is now recognized as one of the best ways to grow huge amounts of corals, fast.

Their Coral Tree Nurseries are the biggest in the world, with the largest covering 1.5 acres of sea floor, containing more than 740 Coral Trees, and capable of producing more than 42,000 “reef-ready” corals every single year!

  1. It’s seriously important.

In the last 30 years, we’ve lost more than 50% of the world’s coral reefs. Unless we intervene immediately, all shallow water coral reefs could be lost in the next 80 years, or sooner.

Coral reefs are a vital component of life in the ocean. They are the “rainforests of the sea”, and support more than 25% of all marine life. Without coral reefs, the delicate balance of life in the ocean will collapse, and, given that over 70% of the oxygen that we breathe comes from the ocean, the consequences for all life on Earth would be catastrophic.

  1. Everyone can get involved!

Divers, snorkelers, landlubbers, and ocean lovers of all ages can get involved in saving coral reefs during Coralpalooza™.

In 2018, nearly 500 people around the world participated in the event, returning more than 1,000 corals back to the wild!

In 2019, Coralpalooza™ 2019 is being held in collaboration with CoralVita, Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, Horniman Museum and Gardens, Fundemar, Mote Marine Laboratory, Oceanus, Rescue a Reef, Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences, Seascape Caribbean, Ticatove, Triton’s Realm, and UNAM.

Coralpalooza™ is spreading from its home in the Florida Keys to Mexico, the US Virgin Islands, Dominica, Hawaii, Jamaica, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Roatan, and London. It is set to be the biggest single day of active reef restoration the world has ever seen!

But it’s not only divers who will be making a difference for coral reefs on World Oceans Day – There are opportunities for all ocean lovers to get involved in Coralpalooza™. On June 8th in Key Largo, Coral Restoration Foundation’s™ very own Captain Coral will be waiting to launch reef-saving adventurers on an island-wide treasure hunt with a chance to win great prizes!

Businesses and other non-profits are also joining the action.  Coralpalooza™ 2019 is sponsored by the Angari Foundation, Fury Water Adventures, Horizon Divers, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Silent World Dive Center, Keys Diver, Rainbow Reef, Key Dives, Island Ventures, Reef Box, and Filter King.

Angela Rosenberg, President & Captain ANGARI Foundation, told us, “ANGARI Foundation is excited to support Coralpalooza™ and be part of the largest coordinated coral restoration event in the world! Coralpalooza’s™ ability to make such a significant impact in coral reef science, conservation and public outreach in a single event is inspiring, and we’re proud to participate and provide R/V ANGARI in support of this year’s event.“

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Coralpalooza™ 2019 Info:

  • Date:

June 7th & 8th, 2019

  • US Location for Land-Based Activities:

Coral Restoration Foundation™ Exploration Center,

5 Seagate Boulevard, Key Largo, FL

  • Times:

10 am to 3 pm

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Coral Restoration Foundation™

Coral Restoration Foundation™ (CRF™) is a non-profit marine conservation organization dedicated to restoring reefs to a healthy state in Florida and globally. Through large-scale cultivation, outplanting and monitoring of genetically diverse corals, CRF works to support the reefs’ natural recovery processes. CRF engages and empowers others in their mission with dive programs, educational activities, scientific collaborations, and community outreach. www.coralrestoration.org

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