For the third year in a row, Mycetophyllia ferox, a threatened species of brooder coral, has successfully spawned under the care of the Florida Coral Rescue Center (FCRC) team in Orlando. This is no small feat! FCRC is the first facility known to propagate this species in human care, and their efforts are paying off in a big way.
Almost as if ringing in the new year, their corals began producing 200-300 larvae each night, with hundreds already settled. The spawning event has already resulted in 5,741 individual larvae, of which many will be distributed to facilities across Florida for further growth.
Florida’s Coral Reef is an ecological and economic powerhouse, but it’s in crisis. Rising ocean temperatures, invasive species, and stony coral tissue loss disease have devastated large sections of the reef. That’s why our support of FCRC is so critical. By rescuing, caring for, and breeding these corals, we’re ensuring a future for your reef and all the marine life that depends on it. You can help by learning more about coral restoration efforts, spreading awareness, or making a donation to our restoring our reefs fund. Together, we can give these baby corals a fighting chance.
