Marine Education Initiative (MEI) began with two key programs focused on responsible angling and working with fishing tournaments to provide donated fish to local soup kitchens, thus reducing waste at tournaments. The first Responsible Angling Education Program began in Boca Raton, FL with only a handful of young participants. The organization grew quickly and expanded to Miami, FL/Durham, NC/ Bimini, Bahamas/ Abaco, Bahamas/ Nassau, Bahamas. Since 2007, we have educated over 2,400 children, provided over 4,200 hot meals of fresh fish, and recruited over 700 youth and adult volunteers. Our proof of concept programming began in 2007 and we legally incorporated in 2012. Our efforts have been commended by numerous well-respected organizations such as: USA Weekend Magazine, The National Jefferson Awards, The Sodexo Foundation, SeaWorld Conservation Fund, and the North American Association of Environmental Educators. According to the United Nations, “by the year 2100, without significant changes, more than half of the world’s marine species may become extinct” and already “between 30-35% of the global marine habitats such as seagrasses, mangroves and coral reefs are estimated to be destroyed”. MEI’s Responsible Angling Education Program aims to combat these statistics and is the program we are requesting funding to support in addition to supporting our operation initiatives. Through this program we are educating and empowering future leaders of tomorrow to be better stewards of our precious marine ecosystem in South Florida. We are equipping our students with important knowledge related to marine science and conservation not often taught in the traditional educational system while also immersing them in the environment by getting them outdoors through the sport of fishing. Another flagship effort at MEI is our Fishing Tournament Donation Program. This initiative involves providing local soup kitchens with fresh fish from local fishing tournaments to reduce tournament waste. Every year hundreds of fishing tournaments are hosted around the country; thus, we have partnered with multiple fishing tournaments over the years, allowing participants to repurpose a portion of their catch by donating to a local soup kitchen. Our volunteers gut, clean, and filet the fish which is then dropped off at the soup kitchens where it is cooked and served. Those in need can seldom afford this incredibly valuable protein source, and often they need it most to supplement their nutrient-deficient diets.
