Restoring the Florida Reef Tract: A Race Against Time

🌊The Florida reef tract, the US's only barrier-reef system, has seen a drastic decline in coral cover over the past few decades.

🌱The Coral Restoration Foundation uses a nursery and outplanting program to restore coral reefs in the Florida Keys, with the world's largest offshore coral nursery.

💪Restoration efforts involve collecting at-risk corals, allowing them to grow in nurseries, and then outplanting them onto reefs.

🏗️The main structure used by the Coral Restoration Foundation is the coral tree, which is made of PVC and fiberglass and holds suspended corals.

🌍Coral reefs globally have declined by 50% in the last 30 years, impacting marine life and oxygen production.

Why is the Florida reef tract important?

—The Florida reef tract is the only barrier-reef system in the US and supports diverse marine life. Its decline would have significant ecological and economic impacts.

What is the Coral Restoration Foundation's role?

—The Coral Restoration Foundation aims to restore the Florida reef tract through a nursery and outplanting program, producing thousands of reef-ready corals annually.

What is a coral tree?

—A coral tree is a structure made of PVC and fiberglass that holds suspended corals in the nursery. It allows the corals to grow and be easily maintained.

What are the challenges of coral restoration?

—Coral restoration faces challenges such as limited funding, habitat degradation, and the impacts of climate change. However, ongoing efforts are needed to keep pace with coral loss.

Why are coral reefs important?

—Coral reefs support a quarter of marine life, provide critical habitats, protect coastlines from storms, and contribute to global oxygen production.

00:13The Florida reef tract is the US's only barrier-reef system, and it has experienced a drastic decline in coral cover over the past few decades.

01:00The Coral Restoration Foundation operates the world's largest offshore coral nursery in the Florida Keys to restore coral reefs.

01:28The nursery program involves collecting at-risk corals from local reefs and allowing them to grow over time.

02:02The main structure used in the nurseries is the coral tree, made of PVC and fiberglass, which holds suspended corals.

03:25Corals are harvested from the nursery to create clones for outplanting at nearby restoration sites.

04:10At restoration sites, divers secure the corals to the reef using epoxy, promoting the growth of a thicket that supports marine life.

06:04Coral restoration is an ongoing effort to keep pace with the decline caused by various pressures, including climate change.

06:53Coral reefs globally have declined by 50% in the last 30 years, highlighting the urgent need for restoration efforts.