Coral reef protection efforts at SEA Life Orlando

Orlando, Fla. — As part of Coral Reef Awareness Week, SEA LIFE Orlando aquarium is raising awareness and  educating people on the coral reef ecosystem and protection efforts in Florida.

Reef Awareness Week is held from July 25 through August 1 and  is a celebration of the living coral reef in Key West, Florida, part of the third largest coral reef system in the world.

Even though coral reefs take up less than two percent of the ocean's surface, 25 percent of the ocean's animals call coral reefs home.

Coral reefs are  fragile and deteriorating due to ocean warming, but remain a vital factor in sustaining the ocean’s ecosystem. Unfortunately, many of the world’s coral reefs are dying due to multiple stressors such as water pollution, ocean acidification and disease.

SEA LIFE Orlando aquarist, Andrew Nerness said its an issue that is affecting the coral reef system here in Florida as well.

“ The reefs especially down in the Keys have suffered some pretty significant damage as a result of coral bleaching,” Nerness said.

To help combat this significant challenge, SEA LIFE Orlando, an aquarium in Orlando, FL, sent 10 SEA LIFE team members down to Key Largo to deliver  informative reef talks to guests, plant 420 corals, clean 15 nursery trees and monitor 122 coral clusters.

Throughout the week the  aquarium is also continuing its efforts to get people involved in protecting the coral reefs in Florida.

“ One of the key goals  SEA LIFE tries to focus on is simply raising awareness,” Nerness said. “ We give them a few key points on what they can do when they get home to help the ocean’s ecosystem, corals and the animals within it.”

As part of Reef Awareness Week, a scientific panel discussion on the health and preservation of the reef is to be held Thursday, July 29, 6 p.m. at the Hilton Key West Resort & Marina. Other awareness-raising events include a community shoreline cleanup on Sunday, July 25, at Trumbo Road; reef awareness documentaries on local cable television; sea kayaking nature tours on Friday, July 30; and a snorkel tour to the coral nursery at Western Sambo Reef on Monday, July 26.