Registration Now Open for 2013 NW Florida Artificial Reef Workshop February 19 – 20, 2013 in Niceville, Florida

An exciting new event is coming to our area. Northwest Florida’s first Artificial Reef Workshop since 2006 will be held February 19 – 20, 2013 at the Niceville Community Center. The community center is centrally located in the Panhandle and located at 204 N Partin Dr, Niceville, FL 32578. Sessions and guest speakers will provide the latest information regarding Reef Designs, Artificial Reefs and Fisheries Management, Monitoring Tools, Artificial Reef Construction Issues in Inshore and Nearshore State Waters, The Economic Benefits and Impacts of Artificial Reefs in NW Florida, and other artificial reef topics of local interest.

The evening of February 19^th there will be an Evening Expo.  At this Expo booths and information will be provided by the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association, Emerald Coast Reef Association, Florida Sea Grant, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, local county reef coordinators, and a variety of vendors highlighting their activities and innovations over the last six years.  This event will run from 6:00 – 8:00 PM.

The cost of the 2-day workshop is $ 40, and this includes meals and refreshments.  The Evening Expo is free.

REGISTER NOW !!!

Registration closes February 11, 2013

To register for either the Workshop or Expo please visit:  http://2013nwfarworkshop.eventbrite.com

Workshop organizers are seeking additional vendors, sponsors, and/or donations of promotional items. Showcase your business to federal, state and local government, local reef building associations and private reef builders.  If you would like to participate as a vendor or contribute as a sponsor please contact Candy Hansard by email candy@ecreef.org  or call Scott Jackson at 850-784-6105 to check for space availability. Space is limited, please act soon.

Note:  Previous advertised date of workshop has been changed to avoid potential schedule conflict with Gulf Council Meeting.

Join UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant, FWC Artificial Reef Program, NW FL County Artificial Reef Programs,  Artifical Reef Associations for the 2013 NW Florida Artificial Reef Workshop. General registration for all events is $40.00 (lunch and dinner included). Register now by clicking on the NW FL Artifical Reef General Registration ticket! 

For those who will ONLY attend the NW FL. Artificial Reef Workshop Free Evening Expo, 6-8 pm, February 19, 2013, register now by clicking on the NW FL Artificial Reef Workshop Free Evening Expo Only, 6-8 pm, February 19, 2013 ticket!   

Commercial vendors interested in display space to promote their business and products are welcome. Vendor registration is $100.00 (includes general registration for 1 person). Register now by clicking on the NW FL Artificial Reef Workshop Vendor registration ticket!   

**** An optional, free side scan sonar workshop has been scheduled following the artificial reef workshop. Please join us February 20, 2013 from 1 pm unitl 3 pm for “Expectations of Side Scan Sonar Products” If you plan to attend, check the box on the registration form.

**** A block of rooms have been reserved at the Comfort Suites Eglin Air Force Base with a rate of 2 queen beds for $77.00. Comfort Suites is located at 48 John Sims Parkway West, Niceville, FL, US, 32578, Phone, (850) 279-6547, http://www.comfortsuites.com/hotel-niceville-florida-FLA61. Rreserve under “FLORIDA ARTIFICIAL REEFS.” This room discount is available until February 11, 2013. .

2013 NW FL Artificial Reef Workshop

February 19-20, 2013

Niceville Community Center, Niceville Florida

                                                            Tentative Agenda

        8:30                    Registration, sign in, vendor and poster set up

10:00                    Workshop Welcome and Goal

Brooke Saari, Florida Sea Grant

Welcome from Okaloosa County Commissioner(s)

10:15                     FWC Statewide artificial reef program update

Jon Dodrill, FWC

10:35                    County and Artificial Reef Citizen Organization Updates

Moderator: Brooke Saari

11:30                     Lunch (included in registration)

1:00                       Private Artificial Reef Development and Management Issues

Jon Dodrill, FWC

Panel Discussion: Robert Turpin, Allen Golden, Scott Henson

2:00                       Overview of Reef Designs

Speaker: Bill Horn, FWC

2:20                       Break 

2:40                       Artificial Reef Monitoring Tools, Goals, and Strategies for NW Florida

Robert Turpin, Scott Jackson, Keith Mille

      3:00                       Artificial Reefs and Fisheries Management Presentations and

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Keith Mille, FWC

Luiz Barbieri, FWC-FWRI

Bill Lindberg, UF

Will Patterson, DISL/UAS 

Bob Shipp

Adjourn daytime session 

5:00                        Diner  (Pizza dinner included in registration)

6:00                       Evening Expo

                             Poster seesion and vendor, sponsor and organization booths

8:00                       Adjourn evening session  

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

7:30                       Registration, sign in

8:30                       Economic Benefits and Impacts of Artificial Reefs in NW Florida

                             Bill Huth, UWF

9:20                      Artificial Reef Planning and Stakeholder Satisfaction, what information are we using to make management decisions about ARs? 

                              Taylor Stein, UF

9:35                       Review and pannel discussion of artifical reegf permitting rules and                  

                              requirements for Large Aea Artificial Reef Sites             

Heather Mason, FDEP

Steve Andrews, USACOE

Keith Mille, FWC
10:25                     Break 

10:45                     Artificial Reef Construction Issues in inshore and nearshore state waters            

Robert Turpin, Escambia County

11:00                     The Status of using large materials for Artifical Reefs (e.g. bridge                      

                             replacement projects, steel vessels, and other large materials of        

                             opportunties

FDOT Represntative

Keith Mille, FWC

11:15                     Sumary of Workshop, Concluding Remarks, Keith Mille, FWC

12:00                     Workshop Adjourn

12:00-1:00              Lunch (included in registration)

1:00-3:00               Expectations of Side Scan Sonar Products for Artifical Reefs

                            (This is an optional free workshop)

Keith Mille, FWC

Kelly Kingon, FSU

Patrick Raley, NOAA

Bryan Clark, Risk management Compass

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