REEF BALL
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"We need to respect the oceans and take care of them
as if our lives depended on it.
Because they do."
~ Sylvia Earle
REEF BALL
aquatic preservation education designed reef & related ecosystems
Take a Three Minute Tour of What We Do.
who we are
The Reef Ball Foundation is an international non-profit foundation whose mission is to rehabilitate and protect our world's ocean ecosystems through the development and use of ecologically sound-designed reefs and related systems. We emphasize on-going research, public education, community involvement, and reefs that promote and support natural species diversity and population density.
designed reefs
World ocean systems are at a tipping point and one stark indicator is a worldwide decline of reefs. Sadly, 20% of the world's coral reefs have effectively been destroyed and it's estimated that 24% of the remaining are under imminent risk. A further 26% are under longer-term threat of collapse.
Reefs matter for us and for the environment in countless ways and designed reefs are useful tools for restoring our reefs and related systems to a natural and productive balance.
why reef balls
Reef Balls are the world's leading designed artificial reef modules because they are simply the most effective way to create sustainable aquatic habitat and achieve it in a safe, long term, environmentally compatible way.
Reef Ball modules are designed to mimic natural reefs. These basic modules and related adaptations using Reef Ball technology are the backbone of our restoration and protection efforts and are by far the most-used and recognized designed reef structure in the world. Reef Balls are ideally suited for a wide-range of aquatic habitats even when used in engineering applications.
Find out how reef Balls are used, about their success and what you can do with Reef Ball and in your everyday life to help.
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FEATURED PROJECT UPDATES
see archived projects here
New Large-Scale Ecosystem Rejuvenation
Brunei
September 3, 2024
With the support of the Department of Fisheries, Poni Divers launches an ambitious project to deploy 5,000 Reef Balls over the next five years. “There’s been over 100 peer-reviewed studies on Reef Balls… It’s a tried and tested solution” said Anna Aziz, Business Development Director of Poni Group.
Watch this exclusive video to discover how this groundbreaking initiative came to life and how the community can contribute to supporting Brunei’s marine conservation efforts.
Jimmy Buffett Memorial Reef Partnership
Key West, FL, USA
August 28, 2024
Eternal Reefs is partnering with Parrot Heads in Paradise, the Reef Ball Foundation and Reef Innovations to work towards creating a Jimmy Buffett Memorial Reef off Key West. “Key West was certainly one of the more famous and favorite locations where Jimmy hung out and got his start,” said Bill Brehm, national president of Parrot Heads in Paradise. The concept would follow that of the On Eternal Patrol reef, honoring 65 lost US Navy submarines. Exact location of the reef is undetermined until permits are issued by the regulatory agencies, but which are expected to be issued in late 2024 or early 2025.
Billion Oyster NYC Expands
New York, NY
July 30, 2024
What started as a pilot project in 2021 is in motion to become a two-acre oyster reef containing 240 reef balls, set with 36 million spat (juvenile oysters) by 2027. Billion Oyster Project has deployed 50 Reef Balls between Pier 3 and Pier 4 Beach with an 120 additional Reef Balls to be deployed in August with long-term goals of reintroducing oysters and create self-sustaining populations, enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Harbor, and bringing New Yorkers back to their waterfront.
Major Oyster Restoration Project Expands
St. Mary’s River, Maryland
July 29, 2024
Marking a significant step in restoring oyster habitats in Chesapeake Bay tributaries, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) with the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) recently deployed 150 Reef Balls laden with juvenile oysters into the St. Mary’s River: one of 11 Bay tributaries targeted for full oyster habitat restoration by 2025.
While pointing out the many benefits of robust oyster populations, the CBF lauded the proven success of the strategic restoration model, saying, “we already know it works.”
The initiative aligns with the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance’s ambitious goal to add 10 billion oysters to Bay waters by 2025.
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