1 PROJECT TITLE: Cayman Islands Near shore Habitat Restoration: Reefs

LOCATION: Cemetery Reef off Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman Islands

PROPOSAL DATE: As soon as can be funded, already permitted

TIMELINE: Production & Installation about 2 months, Coral Plantings in one week.

PROJECT AIMS: Hurricane Ivan (Cat. 5) destroyed a large percentage of all Cayman Islands near shore/shallow reefs. This has created a biological bottleneck for marine reproduction and limited snorkeling opportunities for tourism that is needed to rebuild to economy. In cooperation with the Cayman Island Department of the Environment, this is one of a two-part restoration effort of near shore systems (part two is replanting of Red Mangroves).

BUDGET: $40,000 construction of Reef Balls, $17,000 transportation to Cayman Islands, $40,000 installation, $25,000 activation of Coral Team and planting Reef Balls. Local matching is expected to expand the scope of the project and to provide lodging/scuba support for the Coral Team. Total $122,000

PROJECT CONTACTS: Todd Barber, Chairman, Reef Ball Foundation reefball@reefball.com
Left: First four balls deployed and planted in September 2005 to kick off this project. This picture will grace the cover of the Journal of Coastal Resources next month.

2 PROJECT TITLE: Cayman Near shore Habitat Restoration: Red Mangroves

LOCATION: Nursery Creation At Sailing Club

PROPOSAL DATE: As soon as can be funded, already permitted

TIMELINE: Production & Installation of 800 Reef Ball “pots” in about 2 months, Nursery built in two weeks.

PROJECT AIMS: Hurricane Ivan (Cat. 5) destroyed a large percentage of all Cayman Islands near shore mangrove forests. This has created a biological bottleneck for marine reproduction. In cooperation with the Cayman Island Department of the Environment, this is the second of a two-part restoration effort of near shore systems (part one is near shore reef restoration). There are several mandated or approved projects to plant red mangroves on the island but the Cayman Government does not have the technology nor the nursery needed to do the projects. This project aims to assist the government in setting up a red mangrove nursery for that purpose

BUDGET: $48,000 construction of Reef Balls, $9,000 transportation to Cayman Islands, $25,000 installation of the nursery, $10,000 ongoing support and monitoring by Reef Ball Red Mangrove Division. Local matching includes donation of an ideal nursery site by the Sailing Club government provided apartment for visiting scientists. Total $92,000

PROJECT CONTACT: Todd Barber, Chairman, Reef Ball Foundation reefball@reefball.com

Left: Aerial and CAD layout of nursery area.