Ocean Watch Foundation, Inc.
Ocean Watch Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, grassroots, volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of the coral reef ecosystems in southeast Florida. Our membership is fishing, boating, environmental and marine industries, and all those who have a love of the ocean and beaches. Regardless of race, age, or gender, we are all one strong force. From this common ground, the volunteers preserve the fragile coral reefs through Education, Marine Conservation Programs and Beach and Ocean Cleanups.
Our Beginnings
What began in 1988 as a vision has blossomed into years of success. Ocean Watch can only attribute that to two things; the members and community. Without either, we would not have been the first in the country to have a county-wide mooring buoy system and the first county-wide beach cleanup.
Our annual ocean cleanup is unique in that we do not only have volunteers scouring the beaches for litter and debris, we also send volunteer divers offshore and to the local reefs to collect accumulated debris. We have been doing this for 18 years, and have collected over 20 tons of trash with the help of some 5,400 volunteers over the years.
Marine Conservation Program
Several projects have been implemented via Ocean Watch in the south Florida area including REEF fish ID classes and survey dives, RECON coral monitoring, mooring buoy inspections, the Coral Nursery Project in conjunction with Nova Southeastern University, monofilament recycling and Adopt-A-Shore. Our plans for the future are to expand current programs and add others that directly affect conserving our marine environment.
Marine Environment Cleanups
Ocean Watch actively takes part in numerous beach, waterway, and reef cleanups throughout the year with other conservation groups. We cannot just sit back and wait until our Annual Reef Sweep and Beach Cleanup each June. It is all about helping each other's efforts. Our members are truly stewards of our local environment effectuating noticeable positive outcomes always.
Marine Education
Heightened public awareness of the ecological and economical importance of protecting coral reef ecosystems is an important goal of Ocean Watch Foundation. We have developed slide shows with information on coral reefs and what can be done to help protect them. This presentation is available to any organization at no charge.
Preserving the Reefs
Coral reef ecosystems are often called the "tropical rainforests of the sea." Like our land based rainforests, coral reefs are one of the most threatened and fragile ecosystems.
Our near-shore reef communities are a unique and precious local resource, providing food, shelter and breeding sites for an amazing array of marine life. Did you know that the coral reefs around the world are habitat for one-third of all marine fish and species?
It is also a valuable local economic asset, supporting fish and dive charter operations and contributing greatly to the state's tourism business. A study of natural and artificial reef usage in southeastern Florida showed that from June 2000 to May 2001, expenditures in the tri-county area (Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami Dade) contributed $1.9 billion dollars income and provided over 36,000 jobs related to the natural reefs.
Coral is a living community. Reefs are composed of tiny tube-like animals called coral polyps. It is a common misconception that it is a plant or rock.
Coral reef communities have been able to withstand natural destructive forces for thousands of years, but human destruction and activity can easily tip the delicate balance in the wrong direction. If coral reefs die, marine life must migrate to survive, leaving behind barren algae encrusted forms, void of a once thriving marine community. Help protect with us and become a member of Ocean Watch. We cannot do it alone. We need your help.