For five years, the Florida Coral Rescue Center (FCRC) in Orlando has quietly led a global effort to safeguard the future of Florida’s Coral Reef. As the largest gene bank for rescued Florida corals, FCRC is a lifeline for species struggling against climate change, disease, and habitat loss. But beyond being a sanctuary, FCRC is also a world-class coral spawning center, successfully breeding species that have never spawned anywhere else in human care.
One of those groundbreaking successes is rough cactus coral (Mycetophyllia ferox), a threatened brooder coral that has spawned at FCRC for three years in a row. This year alone, the corals produced thousands of larvae, ensuring a new generation of healthy, resilient corals. These baby corals will be distributed to facilities across Florida, growing strong before the ultimate return of their grand-corals to the wild.
Florida’s Coral Reef stretches 350 miles and supports a quarter of all marine life, but threats like stony coral tissue loss disease, rising ocean temperatures, and invasive species have devastated large sections. That’s why the work at FCRC is critical. By preserving genetic diversity and breeding heat- and disease-resistant corals, scientists are giving your reef a fighting chance. With continued research, funding, and public support, these efforts could rewrite the future of coral restoration—not just in Florida, but worldwide.
Our Foundation is a proud supporter of the FCRC. Join us in protecting Florida’s Coral Reef. Learn more and support our reef by donating or purchasing a “Discover Florida’s Oceans” plate. Every coral saved today is a step toward a thriving reef tomorrow.
