Scientists Breed Threatened Florida Coral Species in Step Toward Reef Restoration
April 21 (Reuters) – Scientists have successfully bred a threatened species of coral as part of a project that hopes…
Conserving Florida’s Coral Reef
With your help, we can rescue and restore Florida’s Coral Reef and share the wonders of our waters with generations to come.
image Coral Restoration Foundation
Discover Florida’s hidden treasure
Florida’s Coral Reef stretches almost 350 miles from the Dry Tortugas to the St. Lucie Inlet. It’s the only coral reef system in the continental United States and is home to over 40 species of reef-building corals that provide shelter, food and breeding sites for millions of plants and animals.
Recent News
Sediments a Likely Culprit in Spread of Deadly Disease on Florida Coral Reefs, Study Finds
New findings also point to coastal construction as potential way of further spreading coral disease. MIAMI—A new study found that…
Studies on environmental co-factors potentially influencing the disease dynamics of Florida’s coral tissue loss diseases
Task 1 compared lesion morphology and mortality through time among diseased M. cavernosa and S. siderea colonies in the Keys and Fort Lauderdale sites. At…
Reef-building Coral Disease Intervention, Statistical Modelling, and Preparation for Restoration Task 6 Final Report: Environmental drivers of stony coral tissue loss disease
This report describes an effort to test whether there are predictable patterns of SCTLD incidence within a population of Orbicella…
Florida’s Coral Reef is an incredible natural resource that protects our coastline and supports the economy, providing opportunities for recreation, education and medical research.
Experience the Reef
See the Coral City Camera live from the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve brought to you by Coral Morphologic or dive in and explore Florida’s Coral Reef in 360°
Recreation
Florida’s Coral Reef offers numerous, awe-inspiring opportunities for responsible diving, boating and fishing.
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Tourism
Florida’s Coral Reef and surrounding waters are a breathtaking recreational destination that drive the economy of south Florida.
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Coastal Protection
Florida’s Coral Reef is a natural buffer for Florida’s shoreline, protecting human life and property by lessening the eroding power of waves. Coral reefs dissipate 97% of wave energy that would otherwise erode beaches.
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Seafood
Florida’s Coral Reef provides a home to hundreds of species of finfish and shellfish, which are a source of seafood for homes, restaurants and our grocery stores.
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Biomedical Research
Drugs developed from coral reef organisms are already on the market to combat caner, pain and inflammation.
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The future of Florida’s Coral Reef is being threatened
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, pollution, warming ocean temperatures, ocean acidification and many other threats contribute to reef degradation.
Without continued bold and aggressive action, we may lose critical functions and benefits of the reefs.
image Coral Restoration Foundation
image Coral Restoration Foundation
But there is hope
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and its partners are working daily to support the reefs’ natural recovery processes through the large-scale cultivation, outplanting and monitoring of genetically diverse, reef-building corals.
