Columbia Sportswear and The Ocean Foundation Extend Seagrass Recovery Efforts to Redfish Bay, Texas.

SeaGrass Grow campaign takes root in Texas.

WASHINGTON and PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A partnership between Columbia Sportswear and The Ocean Foundation is funding a seagrass restoration project in Redfish Bay, near Corpus Christi, Texas. The propeller scar restoration project, made possible by the SeaGrass Grow Campaign and Columbia Sportswear's ongoing financial support, will involve a highly successful technology that stabilizes damaged areas with full recovery expected to take place within 24 months.

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Seagrass meadows support as much as 70 percent of all marine life; therefore such projects are essential in sustaining coastal ecosystems as well as the recreational opportunities they provide. Seagrasses also preserve water quality, provide buffers against coastal erosion, and sequester the greenhouse, gas carbon dioxide, about as efficiently as any ecosystem on earth. Sadly, a 2009 report sanctioned by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that seagrasses have declined by more than 30 percent since the 1940s. Stressors include coastal construction such as seawalls, pollution, and sea-level rise. Prop scars are a significant contributor to the decline of these essential habitats as well.

Prop scars are created when a boat's propeller cuts deep into the root and rhizome systems, leaving a furrow that can stretch across the meadow. Wave and tidal energy often cause these furrows to expand--sometimes until an entire meadow is destroyed. Fortunately, thanks to technological breakthroughs, prop scars amount to one of the easiest impacts to remedy. And they can be prevented through signage and boater education.

The project is being implemented on Texas submerged land leased by The Ocean Foundation from the Texas General Land Office.

The restoration contractor, Seagrass Recovery, will be onsite to begin the Redfish Bay project on Oct. 16 and 17.

"Columbia Sportswear is proud to partner with The Ocean Foundation's SeaGrass Grow Campaign, to help raise awareness and protect our seagrass habitat before it's too late," said Tim Boyle, President and CEO, Columbia Sportswear Company. "Healthy seagrass is the foundation of healthy fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. We look forward to helping the Ocean Foundation educate the public about this important conservation issue."

About The Ocean Foundation

The Ocean Foundation's mission is to support, strengthen, and promote those organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world. For more information, visit http://www.oceanfdn.org/index.php?ht=d/sp/i/355/pid/355//pid/351.

For information about The Ocean Foundation's SeaGrass Grow campaign, visit http://www.seagrassgrow.org.

About Columbia Sportswear

Columbia Sportswear Company is a leading innovator in the active outdoor apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment markets. Founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon, Columbia products are sold in more than 100 countries and have earned an international reputation for innovation, quality and performance. Columbia products feature innovative technologies and designs that protect outdoor enthusiasts from the elements, increase comfort, and make outdoor activities more enjoyable. In addition to the Columbia brand, Columbia Sportswear Company also owns outdoor brands Mountain Hardwear®, Sorel®, and Montrail®. To learn more, please visit the company's websites at www.columbia.com, www.mountainhardwear.com, www.sorel.com, and www.montrail.com.

About Seagrass Recovery

Since 1996, Seagrass Recovery has successfully transplanted, repaired and grown several species of seagrass. The company, located in St. Petersburg, Florida, has completed more than 150 restoration projects around the world, many in Florida. Once Seagrass Recovery becomes involved in a project, measurable results are typically achieved within 18-24 months. This success represents a paradigm shift in how seagrass restoration is applied and achieved.

Today, Seagrass Recovery is actively teaming with concerned citizens, organizations, educational institutions, and corporations across Florida and the nation to protect, restore and expand seagrass habitat. The company's mission is to save oceans, estuaries and shorelines for generations to come.

To learn more about Seagrass Recovery, please visit www.seagrassrecovery.com.

SOURCE The Ocean Foundation