Florida’s Coral Reef stretches 350 miles along our coast, providing a home for a quarter of all marine life. Yet, it faces enormous challenges from rising ocean temperatures, invasive species, and diseases like the devastating stony coral tissue loss disease that has swept across the reef since 2014. Recent reports that iconic staghorn and elkhorn corals are now considered functionally extinct highlight just how dire the situation has become. But amid the heartbreak, there’s real hope, and it’s being grown, quite literally, in Orlando.
The Florida Coral Rescue Center (FCRC) is home to the largest collection of rescued Florida corals in the world. Created through partnerships with organizations like Disney, SeaWorld, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, this state-of-the-art facility is a living laboratory where scientists and aquarists are rewriting the future of coral conservation. At FCRC, rescued corals, removed ahead of the advance of disease, are thriving, growing, and even reproducing. These rescued colonies are the foundation of coral restoration efforts, helping to preserve critical genetic diversity and breed disease and heat-resistant corals capable of withstanding the changing climate.
In October, FCRC experienced three remarkable nights of coral spawning, one of nature’s most breathtaking events. October 14th, 15th, and 16th, staff successfully observed 65 coral colonies from three key species (symmetrical brain coral, boulder brain coral, and great star coral) release their gametes in perfect synchrony. From these spawning events, the team fertilized and developed an incredible 894,900 coral larvae, which were distributed to eight leading research institutions, including The Reef Institute, the University of Miami, NOAA, and Mote Marine Laboratory’s Gene Bank. FCRC also retained 10,000 larvae of each symmetrical brain coral and boulder brain coral to grow onsite, a crucial step in expanding the facility’s research and restoration capabilities.
In total, throughout the fall spawning season from August through October, FCRC and its partners successfully delivered 2.5 million coral larvae to institutions and ocean restoration sites.
Even with these incredible successes, the work is far from over. FCRC is preparing to expand its facility in the coming year to accommodate more rescued colonies and advance critical breeding programs. That expansion and daily operations that keep the blue lights on are made possible by our generous supporters.
These baby corals are more than just a symbol of survival; they’re a promise. A promise that, with enough support, Florida’s Coral Reef can thrive once again. When you donate to our Foundation or purchase a Discover Florida’s Oceans license plate, you help fund the essential operations that make this lifesaving work possible, from utility bills to research equipment and facility maintenance. Together, we can ensure that the next generation of corals and Floridians have a healthy reef to call home.
