Sanctuary Friends Foundation supports the FKNMS's Blue Star Program

FKNMS Contact Celeste Weimer

Description

Blue Star is a voluntary recognition program for Florida Keys dive and snorkel operators. Blue Star members are required to meet certain standards designed to help them increase their customer's awareness of the FKNMS, and to create a partnership among divers, snorkelers, charter operators and the Sanctuary to protect the coral reef ecosystem.  

The Sanctuary has also launched a similar program called Dolphin SMART, for wild-dolphin-viewing charters. Now that Dolphin SMART has been launched, attention will shift toward combining it with Blue Star in the winter of this year.  Sanctuary Friends Foundation disburses funds for program coordination to Celeste Weimer,  who has been contracted by the Sanctuary to coordinate Dolphin SMART and Blue star. Funds for printing will supplement Sanctuary funding already set aside for production of materials such as waterproof dive-briefing cards and recognition materials such as stickers and plaques.

Approximate timeline: June, 2007 for product develpment; printing March through September, 2008.

The Logo for Sanctuary Friends Foundation of the Florida Keys will appear on printed products for the Blue Star program, and Sanctuary Friends Foundation will be listed as a partner in promotional materials such as press releases.