Florida Hero Rebuilds Endangered Coral Reefs

By Good News Network Saturday, March 03, 2012

Earth - General

Over a 40 year span, scuba enthusiast Ken Nedimyer watched helplessly as two of the most important corals went into drastic decline. Today, they are on the endangered species list and the reefs of the Florida Keys are among the most threatened in the world.

Reefs are often referred to as the rainforests of the sea. They attract more marine life than anywhere else in the ocean because of the natural shelter they provide. They also provide protection from storms for our coastal areas.

That passion led to Nedimyer starting the Coral Restoration Foundation, which has grown more than 25,000 staghorn and elkhorn corals in underwater nurseries. He and his staff of volunteers work three days a week maintaining the nurseries just off Key Largo, which cover more than an acre of the ocean floor.

(WATCH the video below, or read the story in CNN HEROES)