Corals harvested from the Florida Keys have been successfully crossbred with the goal of enhancing genetic diversity and disease resistance, which could better protect and restore corals that have been
Reef-wide outplanting of corals susceptible to stony coral tissue loss disease begins
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and our coral reef restoration partners announce the recent successful outplanting of 1,152 coral colonies along Florida’s Coral Reef as part of the largest coordinated experimental outplanting effort in Florida to date.
Reef restoration experiments in Florida have never been replicated on such a large scale before, with 24 outplanting sites spanning from Martin County down the coast of southeast Florida to Key West.
The purpose of this project is to determine the fate of corals that are susceptible to stony coral tissue loss disease when outplanted across Florida’s coral reef where the disease is still present but no longer found in epidemic proportions. The knowledge gained during this study will pave the way for future expansions in the restoration of disease-sus
This yearâs event is a combination of in-person reef diving and virtual learning.
Coralpalooza helps raise awareness about World Oceans Day, recognized internationally on June 8 each year, as well as the importance of the restoration, preservation and conservation of the continental United Statesâ only living coral barrier reef, which parallels the Florida Keys.
Registered recreational divers will join the effort in out-planting corals along reefs in Key Largo and Key West during the Coralpalooza Dive Day scheduled Saturday, June 5.
Hands-on dive activities include helping CRF staff and interns in underwater coral nurseries, out-planting corals to dedicated Keys reef sites and monitoring the wellness of corals in existing colonies.
In recognition of World Oceans Day promoting ocean preservation, Key Largo’s Coral Restoration Foundation is hosting its annual Coralpalooza on Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6.