Message #115
1) Dr. Heyward Mathews plans on adding 60 Reef Balls to a study site in
Pinellas County. The goal is to assess perceived fishing effort /success
verses diving transect observational data. Dr. Mathews decided to add
Reef Balls to the study even though Reef Balls have less height (i.e the
study includes sunk barges) when he dove the Reef Balls in Hernando County
just north of Pinellas….he reported, “seeing 5-6 gag groupers in each reef
ball and the reef balls were surrounded by lots of snapper”
[Note: Reef Balls are different than “high profile materials” in that Reef
Balls are designed to produce fish whereas higher profile materials are
known for the property of attracting fish.]
2) The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in Tampa Florida will have 10 Bay
Balls sited in downtown Tampa in areas with high public exposure and local
artists will be invited to decorate the balls with cash prizes awared for
the best design. Rules for decorating the balls will prohibit painting or
applying anything on the balls that cannot be removed prior to deployment.
Additional Reef Balls of all sizes will be on public display and the
public will be encouraged to sponsor additional Reef Balls. After the
festival, the Reef Balls will be deployed in Tampa bay off Ballast Point.
The Reef Ball Foundation will have a booth at the Art Show. See
www.gasparilla-arts.com for festival information.
3) The 1st Annual Century, Cobia, Yamaha, Family Kingfish Open ($5,000
grand prize) will be held in Sarasota November 13th 1999. The proceeds
going to the Sarasota County Artificial Reef Program (more Reef Balls!)…if
you would like details to participate, contact Mike Solum
(msolum@co.sarasota.fl.us).
Or Contact Treasure Island Charities, Inc. 12781 Kingfish Drive, Treasure
Island, FL 33706 directly.
4) We have a new search engine with lots more features to find your
favorite Reef Ball web pages on the Reef Ball web page (www.reefball.com).
(It searches many Reef Ball sites like the Reef Ball Foundation, Eternal
Reefs, Reef Ball Coalition and of course the Reef Ball Development Group’s
pages).
Have a great day!
DEMA Booth Number #3368 & 3370
www.reefball.com
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