Tampa Bay baby corals join efforts to restore Florida's reefs

Scientists transferred 8,500 juvenile corals from The Florida Aquarium to partner facilities; about 4,500 will go to The Reef Institute in West Palm Beach and 4,000 to Reef Renewal USA for later outplanting to South Florida reefs and the Keys.

Scientists this week moved 8,500 juvenile corals from The Florida Aquarium's Coral Conservation and Research Center in Apollo Beach to partner organizations for further growth. The transfers are intended to allow the corals to be raised on land before being returned to ocean reefs. Florida's reef system has declined sharply in recent years, with disease and higher ocean temperatures cited as major factors. The work is linked to the state Coral Protection and Restoration Program launched in 2023. Key details: - A total of 8,500 juvenile corals were transferred to partner facilities for continued growth. - About 4,500 corals were sent to The Reef Institute's new facility in West Palm Beach and 4,000 were sent to Reef Renewal USA in Ruskin. - Partners plan to grow the corals further and later outplant them to reefs in South Florida and the Florida Keys. - The effort is part of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Coral Protection and Restoration Program, which aims to restore at least 25% of Florida reefs. Summary: The transfers provide a supply of lab-grown corals intended to be outplanted to damaged reef areas after further growth, addressing a system that has seen large declines. Planned outplanting to reefs off Palm Beach, Martin counties and the Florida Keys is reported as the next step, with timelines for specific attachments undetermined at this time.