US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association

The 7th Annual St. Thomas Reef Fest was held on Nov. 12 with over 1000 people in attendance. The Reef Fest community event was organized by the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service at the University of the Virgin Islands and Blue Flag USVI – VICS. Coral World once again donated the use of its venue for this year’s Reef Fest fundraiser.

Valerie Peters, Blue Flag USVI program director and director of marketing at Coral World Ocean Park, said, “Reef Fest celebrates the ocean. It is about empowering the local community to play an active role in protecting the marine environment that surrounds our beautiful islands. Learn about the bond between humans and the ocean, and about what each person can do to cultivate that relationship in a positive way. This year’s theme will focus on Marine Debris and Non-Point Source Pollution.”

The University of the Virgin Islands’ VIMAS program’s mission is to improve the public’s knowledge and stewardship of the marine environment. Reef Fest presents a unique opportunity to interact with and learn about marine creatures and the reef they inhabit at no cost. In the spirit of the reef, islanders learned more about our ocean, reflected on its importance in their lives, took time to do something good for our blue planet and learned how to take action to protect the ocean and the reefs in their daily lives.

We would like to thank the following business for their support – Seaborne Airlines, St. Thomas Restaurant Group, Mahogany Run Golf Course, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Tree Limin’ Extreme, Paradise Point, Marriott Frenchman’s Reef, Buddha Sushi, Shannon Rauch, Caribbean Mermaid Academy, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, Radical Express Band, DJ Keano, Friends of the Park, Media Marketing, Melee Media, Debbie Dedicated Dogs, Coki Beach Dive, East End Flower shop, Magens Bay Authority, Pistarckle Theater, Art Explorium.

For more information, contact Valerie Peters at marketing@coralworldvi.com or 340-775-1555 ext. 246, or Howard Forbes Jr.  Howard.Forbes@live.uvi.edu or 340-513-7203.