Date: March 30, 2007
Contact: David Godfrey
Phone: (325) 373-6441
MIAMI, FL— On Friday, March 30, 2007, the Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Ocean Fund awarded a $40,000 grant to the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) for the production of two mini-documentaries to be used at the new Barrier Island Center in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. The short videos, which will also be distributed to other educational facilities, will be produced in collaboration with Melbourne-based Open Water Media, and the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. CCC will be managing the educational programs at the BIC in partnership with Brevard County.
The first film will be an introduction to the Barrier Island Center and surrounding habitats, while the second will focus on sea turtles and sea turtle research conducted in the refuge. Both programs will be officially released in conjunction with the grand opening of the center in November 2007. Later, the groups plan to extend the series to include individual videos focused on a cross section of specific barrier island habitats, from the Indian River Lagoon, to the beach, to offshore habitats.
The overall goal for the series is to increase public awareness of the uniqueness, beauty and fragile nature of the ecosystems and inhabitants within and adjacent to Florida’s eastern barrier islands. The programs will also explain how critical healthy marine and coastal habitats are to fisheries, tourism, and endangered and threatened sea turtles.
Dr. Archie Carr, a sea turtle biologist and writer from the University of Florida, helped found the Caribbean Conservation Corporation in 1959. CCC now supports sea turtle research and conservation around the world, including in the Archie Carr Refuge, where it also conducts turtle walks each summer and carries out a range of educational activities.
“We’re very excited about the opening of the Barrier Island Center and thrilled to be playing a central role in the delivery of educational programs that showcase sea turtles and other features of Florida’s barrier islands,” said David Godfrey, CCC’s Executive Director. “We’re especially proud to be producing these new videos with the support of Royal Caribbean’s Ocean Fund.”
The Sea Turtle Conservancy, formerly known as the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization based in Florida with offices and projects in several other locations. The Sea Turtle Conservancy is the oldest and most accomplished sea turtle organization in the world. Since its founding in 1959, the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s work has greatly improved the survival outlook for several species of sea turtles. The Sea Turtle Conservancy has as its mission the protection of sea turtles and the habitats upon which they depend. To achieve its mission, the Sea Turtle Conservancy uses research, habitat protection, public education, community outreach, networking and advocacy as its basic tools. These tools are applied in both international and domestic programs focusing on geographic areas that are globally important to sea turtle survival. For more information, visit the STC website atwww.conserveturtles.org or call (800) 678-7853.
Open Water Media
Open Water Media is a communications group dedicated to presenting scientific and other topics to general audiences through the production of print, video, and web materials that are accurate, easily understandable, and engaging.
Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program
The Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program was established in 1990 to protect the natural habitats of Brevard County by acquiring environmentally sensitive lands for conservation, passive recreation, and environmental education. This was made possible by citizens who voted to tax themselves up to $55 million dollars for the acquisition and maintenance of Brevard’s natural areas. To stretch these funds as far as possible, the EEL Program forms partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies that are committed to the protection of natural resources and our long-term quality of life.
Sea Turtle Conservancy
