Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival to ‘Make Waves’ for Reef Protection July 11–12
LOOE KEY, Florida Keys — The Lower Florida Keys’ vibrant […]
Steward of the Keys: REEF’s Jill Kuehnert Brings New Ocean Exploration Center to Life with Purpose and Passion
Jill Kuehnert, the campus director of Key Largo-based Reef Environmental […]
Celebrate World Ocean Day at the grand opening of the new REEF Ocean Exploration Center
Celebrate World Ocean Day at the grand opening of the […]
Conch Republic Turns 43 – Still Sassy, Still Seceded
Key West to Host 10 Days of Outrageous Conch Republic […]
John David Hawver: Artist and Steward of the Keys
Oil painter John David Hawver, one of the best-known artists in the Florida Keys, is soft-spoken, modest and friendly. While he loves the people of the Keys, he paints the 125-mile-long island chain’s environmental scenes and nature-scapes. He likes to use color in his work — particularly the colors of the water and sky.
Keys Dive Pros Offer Tips for Memorable Underwater Experiences
As many as 800,000 divers travel to the Florida Keys each year to discover the wonder and beauty of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, whose waters surround the island chain. Here, Keys dive pros offer tips for safe, successful and memorable dive experiences — and suggestions about giving back to the marine environment.
Chris Bergh: The Nature Conservancy’s Steward in the Keys
Chris Bergh, The Nature Conservancy’s Florida field program director based in the Lower Keys, is optimistic about the Florida Keys’ future and ability to adapt to environmental challenges in the coming decades. His priorities include protecting the Keys’ water quality and environmental biodiversity to save endangered and rare species such as Key deer.
Valerie Preziosi: Steward of Endangered Key Deer
Valerie Preziosi, founder and president of the nonprofit Save Our Key Deer Inc., works to save the diminutive, indigenous and federally protected herd of about 800 Key deer from human-provoked tragedies. Also an avid nature photographer, she is opening a new state-authorized Key deer rehabilitation facility on Big Pine Key in late December.
Dee Dee Vaughan Smause: Coral Stewardship Runs in the Family
Dee Dee Vaughan Smause, co-founder of Plant a Million Corals with her parents, Dr. Dave Vaughan and Donna Vaughan, is passionately committed to restoring coral reefs and preserving the Florida Keys’ marine biodiversity. She finds great satisfaction in sharing Plant a Million Corals’ message of hope and seeing how it resonates with people.
Steve Friedman: A ‘Blue Star’ Steward of Keys Waters
Islamorada fishing guide and captain Steve Friedman loves water: salt water, fresh water, blue water and particularly clean water. Friedman’s love of water includes prioritizing the preservation and restoration of the South Florida ecosystem, and the management of fisheries that provide a safe haven for the Florida Keys fish he loves to catch.