Mission
OVER THE PAST FIFTY YEARS OUR SOUTH FLORIDA OCEAN HABITAT AND REEFS HAVE BEEN DEGRADED BY A VARIETY OF DESTRUCTIVE INFLUENCES INCLUDING POPULATION GROWTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, POLLUTION, INVASIVE EXOTIC SPECIES AND LACK OF EDUCATION ON AND APPRECIATION FOR THE VALUE OF OUR MARINE RESOURCES. THE ANDREW "RED" HARRIS FOUNDATION WILL ENHANCE, AUGMENT AND, IN SOME CASES, REPLACE THE NATURAL REEFS WHICH ARE THE KEY ELEMENT IN OUR LOCAL MARINE HABITAT. SPECIALLY DESIGNED CONCRETE STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO CREATE A MORE NATURAL ARTIFICIAL REEF ECOSYSTEM THAN SUNKEN SHIPS AND CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS PROVIDE. THESE UNIQUELY DESIGNED STRUCTURES WILL PROVIDE A MARINE LIFE LIVING LABORATORY FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. THE DEPLOYMENT OF THESE STRUCTURES IS BEING DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PALM BEACH COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, THE FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION, THE TOWN OF JUPITER AND OTHERS. THE FIRST 40 STRUCTURES WERE PLACED ON THE OCEAN FLOOR IN THE SUMMER