FWC Scientists Rescue 57 Corals, Will Be Used in Breeding and Coral Fragmentation Programs

Mote Marine Laboratory update reported the corals look good, have no signs of sickness

FWC scientists collected 57 corals from a reef west of Key West – with species including flower, maze and boulder corals. Each were carefully removed using hammer and chisel. (FWC image)

FWC scientists collected 57 corals from a reef west of Key West – with species including flower, maze and boulder corals. Each were carefully removed using hammer and chisel.

These corals, plus 50 others collected earlier in the year, were transported to Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota.

While they are in aquaria, some of the corals will be used in breeding and coral fragmentation programs to increase the genetic diversity and number of colonies available for transplanting back into the wild.

An update from Mote reported the corals look good, with no signs of sickness.

These corals will be kept at Mote until the SCTL disease passes and it’s safe to return them to the reef.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CORAL DISEASE 

FWC coral scientists take tissue samples from each colony for later genetic research. (FWC image)
A smooth flower coral, Eusmilia fastigiata freshly chiseled off the reef. (FWC image)
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