Western Dry Rocks

Reef Relief, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting living coral reef ecosystems, has created the Reef Relief Coral Nursery at Western Sambo reef (aka Western Dry Rocks) in Key West.

After a serious storm, fragments of endangered elkhorn coral were strewn about the reef and covered in sediment. Elkhorn coral grows only in the Caribbean is one of the magnificent of the branching corals. It flourishes in the shallow reef zones that experience heavy wave action, thus making it more vulnerable to storm damage.

Fragments of the branching elkhorn coral were cemented onto concrete pads, or coral rosettes, a creation of the Reef Doctor, Harold Hudson, of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The coral rosettes or cement bases are now secured to the ocean bottom with cement and are growing.

Director of the Marine Projects Craig Quirolo has produced the first year report on the nursery and it is available to interested parties. The report includes color images documenting the creation and construction of the nursery. For more information call 305-294-3100 or write to P.O. Box 430, Key West, FL 33041 or email reef@bellsouth.net