NSU Horizons Spring 2016

17 NSU HORIZONS drag or a severe bleaching event, and the fact that we’re able to repopulate the reef in that area, is so rewarding.” In addition, the Halmos College students often discuss the Coral Nursery Initiative at community events, espe- cially bringing awareness to schoolchildren such as at Ocean Week and Earth Day at South Florida area schools and museums. The only obstacle standing in the initiative’s way is funding. “We can expand these nurseries even more if we had the support, so the ongoing goal is to maintain enough support to keep the nurseries functioning,” Gilliam said. “Fieldwork is not cheap, and underwater fieldwork is even more expensive.” In addition to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s grant, additional funding has been provided by the Dive Bar, a volunteer group of seafaring lawyers; the Tortuga Music Festival, through its Rock the Ocean conserva- tion platform; and a crowdfunding campaign Larson launched in 2014. The Coral Reef Initiative is actively seeking additional funding to keep the project flourishing in the future. To contribute a tax-deductible donation to the project, contact Wendy Wood-Derrer, the Halmos College’s director of development, at wendyw@nova.edu or (954) 262-3617, or Robin R. Blackwell, J.D., director of development, leadership gifts at ra71@nova.edu or (954) 262-2019. Cody Bliss (M.S., ’14) checks on staghorn coral in an NSU offshore coral nursery. This report was prepared by Nova Southeastern University under award #NA10NMF04630081 “National Partnership between the NOAA Restoration Center and The Nature Conservancy” from NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce to The Nature Conservancy. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce or The Nature Conservancy. This project was made possible through support provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce and The Nature Conservancy, under the terms of Cooperative Agreement NA09NMF4630332. The content and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce or The Nature Conservancy, and no official endorsement should be inferred. k