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Ken Nedimyer has been named a CNN hero for his work to preserve Florida Keys corals.
FLORIDA KEYS, Florida -- A Florida Keys coral restoration expert has been named a CNN Hero for his pioneering efforts to develop techniques to preserve coral reefs and motivate public support for a cause that attracts environmentally conscious vacationers.
The honor for Ken Nedimyer, founder and president of Key Largo-based Coral Restoration Foundation, was first broadcast on CNN Friday morning.
According to CNN officials, CNN Heroes are everyday people who are changing the world, dedicating their lives to giving back to communities, defending the planet by protecting the environment, helping others overcome obstacles or solving problems in a unique way.
More than 10,000 nominations are made each year from about 100 countries, according to CNN spokesperson Shimrit Sheetrit. About 25 to 30 heroes are profiled, she said, and the top 10 are chosen at the end of the year by CNN's editorial board to appear in a special CNN presentation where each finalist receives a $50,000 grant.
One of the honorees, to be voted by fans across the globe in the fall, is to be dubbed CNN Hero of the Year, and is to garner an additional $250,000 grant.
Gary Yoss, a Wellington, Fla., diver who had seen Nedimyer's coral plantings on Molasses Reef off Key Largo, nominated Nedimyer.
"I had to pinch myself; I'm pretty excited," said Nedimyer, after learning about the honor. "It's a huge endorsement not just for me, but for the foundation, and this really puts us on the radar.
"We can be proud hearing Key Largo and the Florida Keys are taking measures to protect resources here," added Nedimyer, 56, who began coral restoration research efforts about 10 years ago after careers in tropical fish collecting and aquaculture.
The goal of Nedimyer and his small yet impassioned staff of marine scientists is to restore, cultivate and plant staghorn and elkhorn corals, and hopefully reverse their endangered status.
CRF's one-acre coral nursery in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Key Largo is possibly the world's largest, Nedimyer said, with nearly 23,000 clippings that range from the length of a knuckle up to 15 inches. The clippings eventually are transplanted to nearby reefs to grow and become independent structures serving as habitat for a variety of tropical fish. The expectation is that the corals will reproduce and create more reef growth on the ocean floor.
"Ours is a message of hope," said Nedimyer, who has leveraged common-sense techniques with scores of volunteers to succeed in an effort that some scientiststhought was impossible. "I'm convinced this is the solution that can work."
Beyond creating scientific solutions, Nedimyer has been successful in developing community and visitor volunteer programs to create a "workforce" for coral restoration. Several times a year coral restoration workshops are conducted at Upper Keys lodging properties that attract visitors who learn about coral reefs and participate in working dives at the coral nursery.
Nedimyer's work is likely to have positive impacts for coral reefs in other tropical destinations.
"We are developing a concept we can take to other countries as well," he said. "We're putting Key Largo and the Keys on the map as a community that got together and did something about it (restoring coral)."
Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of UnderwaterTimes.com, its staff or its advertisers.
Reader Comments
12 people have commented so far.rexcently i read about a couple on their honeymoon diving to see the coral but i believe they were in the coral sea and the lady never swam in the ocean before as in oceans there was an underdraft anfd she got away from her husband who was holdin hrer han her handbut under current separated them she drowned my daughter and her husband are snorklers and are going on their honeymoonsoon being as she also believes in saving the planet i hope she is notaken in buy this man who also wants to save planetsaveplanetpatfrederes@yahoo.com
comment# 1 - patricia frederes · rochester new york · Mar 5, 2012 @ 1:53pm
This is as good an example of "Giving back" as you will ever find. Great Man!
comment# 2 - Ziggy Luis · Tampa,Fl. · Mar 5, 2012 @ 3:13pm
BRAVO! BRAVO!! CONGRATS ON A WELL DESERVED HONOR!! THE PLANET NEEDS MANY MORE DEDICATED HEROES SUCH AS YOURSELF! THANK YOU!
comment# 3 - JOAN SMARDAN · Cardiff, CA USA · Mar 5, 2012 @ 3:22pm
Ken, Congradulatioms on work well done! I am a diver from the Keys and would like to hear more and get involved in your worldwide program. Bill Fisher billfish49@yahoo.com
comment# 4 - Bill Fisher · Playa Guayaberos, Panama · Mar 5, 2012 @ 4:01pm
A really great bit of news on saving some of our most beautiful places on the planet.
comment# 5 - Bill Grant · Chicago area USA · Mar 5, 2012 @ 4:04pm
Awesome! Keep up the great work!
comment# 6 - Chris · Tampa · Mar 5, 2012 @ 6:20pm
Good Job, Ken. Keep up the good work.
comment# 7 - Tim Plyler · Cornelius NC, USA · Mar 5, 2012 @ 6:28pm
Whatever.
comment# 8 - Bill Maher · Los Angeles, CA · Mar 6, 2012 @ 5:14am
It's so wonderful that your efforts are being rewarded. I spent 5 weeks at Key Marathon and dove at John Pennycamp. It's such good news that something positive is happening due to your efforts! Cudo's, peace, & best regards. Thank you for all your good work!
comment# 9 - Chuck Reed · Detroit, MI. · Mar 6, 2012 @ 8:13am
I lived here in the 1970's and could snorkel on any reef. They were all beautiful and full of life. I came came back in the 90's and went to one of my favorite dive sites, (the Sambos'). I was sickened. All I saw was dead, grey, broken, and barren reefs. Thank you Ken for your efforts in restoration research. I live here in the Keys again (near Mote Marine) and would be glad to volunteer in any way way I could. Incidently I was in the first graduation class of the Marine Biology A.S. program. I would love to get back in to it. larmeljake@yahoo.com
comment# 10 - Larry · Fla. Keys · Mar 6, 2012 @ 11:12am
nice work! God bless you and your team!
comment# 11 - Tray · fresno, usa · Mar 6, 2012 @ 12:33pm
I just went to a 3D Documentry about the last reef which was awsome very informative so the work ur doing is needed n thanks, without it things would die n tides would change. THANKS ALOT
comment# 12 - lori lacroix · clinton,ia · Mar 8, 2012 @ 6:24am