Restored staghorn coral at Looe Key reef in the lower Florida Keys. This reef is one of the locations targeted for restoration through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Mission: Iconic Reefs. LAUREN TOTH/USGS Some eroding coral reefs in the Florida Keys could begin growing again at historical levels — as fast as their peak 7,000 years ago — if restoration goals planned for the area are achieved. A new study led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the first to estimate coral reef growth versus erosion throughout the Keys and can help guide conservation decisions. Prior to this...
Belize’s Barrier Reef stretches for 190 miles along the country’s coast, and this ecosystem is a vital habitat for hundreds of species of marine life, including endangered corals, jellyfish, and turtles.
Nearly half of these ocean ecosystems have been wiped out since 1950. One man is on a mission to reverse that—by speed-growing coral in hyperefficient nurseries.
