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Florida Institute of Technology Update: Florida Tech volunteers included Cayman Islands Restoration fabrication and deployment of Reef Ball units, Editor’s note: This month begins teers for a Reef Ball Foundation gathering and preparation of a new feature, “University Update.” restoration and coral , and propagation of corals Once a month a professor from propagation project on Grand on the artificial reef units. Spon- Florida Institute of Technology, the Cayman in the Cayman Islands sors and organizers for this project University of Florida or the Univer- during September 2005. included the Reef Ball Foundation sity of South Florida will provide a Last year Grand Cayman (project organization and sup- column. suffered severe damages from a plies), Dr. Lee Harris (engineering direct hit by Category 5 Hurricane and deployment supervision), r. Lee Harris, Florida Insti- Ivan, including some damages to Grand Cayman Marriott Beach tute of Technology associ- the shallower nearshore reef Resort (hotel accommodations and Date professor of ocean areas. This project was filmed by meals), Red Sail Sports (SCUBA engineering, and two of his ocean the BBC for a special television equipment and boat support), engineering graduate students, program, “Jewels of the Carib- West Indian Marine Group (ship & Doug Bowlus and Ashley bean.” diving operations and Reef Ball Naimaster, participated as volun- Work performed by the CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 6

Cayman CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 reef (Cemetery reef), both sites fabrication), and the Cayman are offshore of the famous seven Islands Departments of mile beach on Grand Cayman. and Environment. Dr. Harris headed up the deployment activities, and assisted Background Information: Dr. with the fabrication of the Reef Ball Harris was the engineer who units. He assisted the BBC in designed, permitted, and oversaw filming the project and also as- installation of the Reef Ball artificial sisted with the gathering of imper- reef breakwater, which has per- iled corals to be propagated on the formed very well in stabilizing this Reef Balls, and photographed all highly eroding beach. He oversaw phases of the project. the deployment of additional Reef Graduate students Doug Ball units at both the Grand - Bowlus and Ashley Naimaster man Marriott Beach Resort and worked with Dr. Harris on this offshore at the hurricane-damaged project. ❑