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FALL 2014
DIVE SLATE
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CRF currently has nurseries
in Bonaire and Colombia, and
six other island nations are
in various stages of readiness
to join the ranks in the near
future. Mike Echevarria,
chairman of CRF’s board of
directors, says the organization
is getting new inquiries every
week from the international
community. Recognizing the
demand for coral cultivation,
CRF created a new entity for
overseas expansion called
Coral Restoration Foundation International (CRFI). Coral Restoration Foundation
Europe, a London-based charity under the direction of Peter Raines, was formed
to support CRFI and its projects. Together they have plans for the Pacific and Asia
and have received inquiries from the Middle East as well.
CRF is refining its proven techniques into a turnkey operation for overseas
deployment. Echevarria believes they have the potential to be in 25 countries
within five years once they put the finishing touches on the turnkey package.
The path to a working nursery goes something like this: Once CRF
receives an inquiry, the inquiring organization works with CRF to establish a
stakeholder base that includes dive operators, the tourism industry, local or
Denise Nedimyer observes
staghorn coral spawn
collected from the Coral
Restoration Foundation’s
nursery.
Above: Staghorn corals are
nurtured on a PVC “tree,” where
they will grow until they can
be successfully transported
and then transplanted onto the
coral reef.
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