At a recent Rotary meeting we enjoyed a very informative presentation by Kristi Kerrigan from the FDEP Coral Reef Conservation Program.

The FDEP is Florida’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship, is one of the more diverse agencies in state government – protecting our air, water and land.

We learned why corals are so valuable (they protect our coats by reducing wave energy from storms and hurricanes AND serve as a source of food and shelter and provide critical habitat for numerous species, including commercially important fisheries).

Also that they are being affected by an outbreak of a coral disease termed Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) and that its effect has reached a critical stage.

The good thing is that TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE CORALS!

We have some GREAT speakers coming up this month. Please join us to hear from:

September 18 – Busch Wildlife

September 25 – Harvey Oyer who will talk about Palm Beach and WWI

We meet at Okeechobee Steakhouse, located at 1959 Wabasso Dr, West Palm Beach, FL 33409. Our meetings begin promptly at 12:00 noon, but the buffet opens at 11:30 so you are welcome to come any time after that. Meetings are done by 1 pm, sharp.