Mission Iconic Reefs in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary on LinkedIn: #missioniconicreefs #celebration #coralreefs #coralrestoration… (2024)

Following a late-May visit to FKNMS Sanctuary offices and an outing to Eastern Dry Rocks, one of the 7 Iconic Reefs, United Way of Collier and the Keys & the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the United States announced additional support for Mission Iconic Reefs in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary efforts & beyond. A topside & field-based program will the connect reef restoration professionals & experts from both regions- who share similar climates- in a learning exchange that offers best practices and collaborates on solutions to conservation challenges. In addition to technical cooperation, the exchange set for February 2025 will foster cultural learning and mutual understanding. The partnership began in 2020 with a $3.5-million-dollar gift from the United Arab Emirates to fund cutting-edge and innovative projects in reef restoration and education, and the following year, United Way helped deepen understanding & garner support for reef conservation & restoration at a congressional briefing UWCK participated in a congressional briefing.Since then, funding has supported restoration projects for M:IR partner's Reef Renewal USA, Inc. and Coral Restoration Foundation™ and sponsored the 2022 Reef Futures Conference, the premier event uniting global coral restoration experts to share innovative techniques and scale-up restoration efforts.They also supported education through Marine Science Education Grants. 19,484 students have benefited so far from grant-supported, teacher-led projects totaling $97,589, and 16 students have benefits from Marine Science Educational Advancement Scholarships totalling $68,685. Efforts are underway for Monroe County School District to attain NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Ocean Guardian District status. United Way of Collier and the Keys (UWCK) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the education, health, and economic mobility of our neighbors in Collier and Monroe Counties. Through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts, UWCK addresses critical social issues and works towards driving positive, sustainable change to build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.UWCK will provide updates on the exchange program as it develops, including the selection of participants this fall. 📷: Cricket Dawn Desmarais / NOAA & Ben Edmonds/ NOAA#bettertogether #weareallconnected #hopeforcoral #oceanguardians #educationmatters #EquityInEducation #communitysupport #blueeconomy #missioniconicreefs #elkhornsurvivor #missioniconicreefs #unitedway #UEA #coralreefs #coralrestoration #coralconservation

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"Embracing positive news isn't just a luxury; it's a conscious investment in our well-being. Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. In a world filled with challenges, it's essential to read uplifting stories that reshape our mindset and empower us to build a brighter future.." -DESMOND TUTUWorld Ocean Day catalyzes collective action and conservation for a healthy ocean and a stable climate. It is a global network of youth leaders and 2,000+ organizations in 150+ countries.Join the efforts by World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council & do your part to protect & restore our blue planet! #WorldOceanDay #hopeforcoral #missioniconicreefs #coralrestoration #bethelight

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NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries- Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary named 'Hope Spot" by Sylvia Earle & Florida International University marine scientists & hope spot champions "There are few places in the world that have so many scientists doing their special thing in one place over such a long period of time. This Hope Spot combines the mangroves, seagrass meadows, coral reefs and the deep waters beyond all together, making this an amazing place highly regarded by people all over the world.”- Sylvia EarleRead all about it the nomination here!https://lnkd.in/edM64nKWSpecial thanks to Hope Spot Champions & our FIU colleagues Dr. Mireya Mayor, Director of Strategic Projects and a National Geographic Explorer, Dr. Michael R. Heithaus, Executive Dean and Professor of Biological Sciences, and Dr. Heather Bracken-Grissom, Assistant Director of the Institute of Environment photo: Jay Clue#hopeforcoral #floridakeysnationalmarinesanctuary #missioniconicreefs #fiu #sylviaearle #hope #marineecology #coralrestoration #connectivity

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📸 Submit your entries at https://lnkd.in/eXGccev!

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NOT JUST ITS MOTHER LOVES THIS FACE"Scientists are currently studying whether the Caribbean king crab can be a key factor in the effort to protect the reef systems in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea—systems that have been under siege due to skyrocketing water temperatures and other effects of climate change"#missioniconicreefs #motemarinelab #CoralReefs #NatureBasedSolutions #kingcrab #hopeforcoralhttps://lnkd.in/dugn_KSu

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“Without the barrier reef, it’s hard to imagine the Keys would be there." - Jim Hench, Mission: Iconic Reefs partner & Duke University Wave Attenuation Researcher. Special thanks to Janine Stanwood & local10 for their reporting on the importance of coral reefs, especially here in NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. To see how local organizations are working with NOAA to save the coral reef, tune in to Local 10′s hurricane special: “Staying Storm Safe: In Hot Water,” Sunday night at 7 p.m.#CoralReefs #coralrestoration #WaveAttenuation #missioniconicreefshttps://lnkd.in/eN4Zfr9T

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Want to learn how to get hands-on with coral restoration with Mission Iconic Reefs in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and how the dive industry can play a crucial role in spreading awareness about marine conservation? Tune into this recording from last week's ICONIC REEF GUARDIANS presentation by Maddie Cholnoky at Reef Environmental Education Foundation.#missioniconicreefs #hopeforcoral #communityscience #CoralReefs #iconicreefguardians

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Incredible work our partners at Sea Base High Adventure, Boy Scouts of America (now Scouts of America!) are doing.... check it out!

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Bring your financial & operational chops to this important organization!

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