The group has been adamantly going to sites where ships have run aground to collect and remove unnatural debris in attempt to keep the reef pollution free.
“There is no question that reefs will be damaged when ships run aground on them,” said one member of the group. “We want to make sure that none of the remains of the ships, at least those that we know for sure will continue to cause further destruction of the reefs or the life that thrive near and around them, is left in on the reefs.”The members of group, who would be appropriately named “Reeflibrators,” are not scientists or government officials. They are a bunch of ordinary citizens who have decided to free the reefs of unwanted, unsightly, and potentially wounding objects.“We have collected and removed a lot of things off of the reefs,” said a member. “We have removed and disposed of fiber glass panels, tires, paint residue, nets, ropes, lead anchors, and even mop heads.”According to the group, when it hears of a ship running aground, it waits for government officials to process and assess the site. When all is quiet, presumably settled and cleared, the group then visits the site to make its initial survey. If unwanted objects are sighted at the site, the group returns to do research, make a workable plan, solicits for support, and then goes out to remove the objects and make an effort to put the site back to it natural setting.“We look at studies and recommendations of agencies and organizations and we ask questions before we remove things from the reefs,” the members said. “We basically just want to keep the reef breathing freely.”Members of the group say that the activities they do are far more pleasing than just “hanging around” on a Sunday afternoon.One member said that it used to be “night outs and beers” every weekend; however, “our weekends have turned into something more than just days to binge, but rather a chance to change to make changes for Palau – a chance to breathe freely.”The “Reefliberators” invite everyone to join them, though not for fame, but to do something worthwhile.
