Our mission in marine conservation not only includes making our swim trunks from recycled ocean plastic, but we’ve also partnered with the Coral Restoration Foundation™, the largest coral reef restoration organization in the world. Skiff Dogs was born in Key West, FL, and our nautical neighborhood is home to an abundance of coral - specifically acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral) and acropora palmata (elkhorn coral) - but we are losing reefs here, and around the world, at an alarming rate. We’ve lost more than half of the world’s reefs in the last 30 years, and without taking action, all shallow water coral reefs are estimated to die out within this century.
Humanity has never witnessed the loss of an entire biome, but we know the results will be catastrophic; almost 70% of our oxygen is produced by the ocean, and reefs underpin the balance of marine life. Over one million species depend on reefs, and they also provide us on land with coastal protection for the sea, mitigating hurricane damage, erosion, and infrastructure. Moreover, reefs have an annual estimated economic value of around $9.9 trillion globally.
The stakes are high, but we’re diving in! The Coral Restoration Foundation™ leads programs in education (including internships, after school programs, and scholarships), research, volunteer programs, and of course, restoration. In 2020 alone:
- 27,293 corals returned to the wild
- 7,600 square meters of reef restored
- 740 coral nurseries planted
- All accomplished with 5,248 hours underwater
We are so proud to work with such a great partner, and while the job is never done, every effort makes a difference. We donate a portion of every sale to this dedicated organization, and if you want to pitch in, feel free to do so here.
Coral reefs are often referred to as the “rainforests of the ocean” due to their shared roles in supporting massive biodiversity, and their importance in supporting life far outside their immediate vicinity. We hope you join us on our journey in protecting and restoring our reefs. Everyone can do their part, you just have to dive in!