Reef Ball Foundation Photos and Project Description Database

The Reef Ball Foundation, an international environmental organization that restores coral reefs and marine habitat with attractive, environmentally safe artificial reefs, is in the construction phase of making 500+ Reef Balls to be deployed about 6 miles off the coast between St. Augustine and Jacksonville. This innovative and proven reef design is the first of its kind to be deployed in all of Northeast Florida. The site of construction is at the Music Shed, downtown courtesy of the Jacksonville Riverfront Corporation. The reef was built in honor of Atlanta, Georgia attorney, Charles H. Kirbo, who served as an advisor and lawyer to President Jimmy Carter, was a trustee of the Carter Center and a trustee of the T. M. and Irene B. Kirbo Charitable Trust. The reef is being built thanks to a grant from the Kirbo Charitable Trust and the Reef Ball Foundation. The project will be a collaborative effort between local schools, such as Mandarin and Fletcher High Schools, St. Augustine High School and Jacksonville University, and community organizations and local businesses such as the Jacksonville Offshore Sport Fishing Club and Jacksonville Reef Research Team. Construction of the Reef Balls is being done by Reef Innovations. Representatives from each of these organizations will be present to answer questions regarding their involvement. The project coordinator, Larry Beggs, is Vice President of the Reef Ball Development Group, LTD and president of Reef Innovations.

The Mandarin High School Marine Biology teacher Mr. Waters has won a $10,000 grant for his Reef ball Project. The grant consists of trips for two students and their teacher to attend the awards ceremony at Sea World of California. The class is one of eight schools across the country to win the 2000 Sea World Environmental Excellence Award, which also includes 100 T-shirts to share with the school and community. The student project involves constructing artificial reef components made of concrete called reef balls, which are used to improve Jacksonville's offshore reef system. The reef balls mimic natural coral heads and replace damaged reefs or create new ones. The reef balls made at Mandarin High School will be added to 500 that already have been constructed and will be deployed in June.