"We're rebuilding": Four nights to shape future of Florida's reef

A coalition of Florida conservation organisations—the Reef Institute, Reef Renewal, and Mote Marine Laboratory—captured elkhorn coral gametes during their annual spawning in August to fertilise and raise juvenile corals for restoration. Elkhorn coral is functionally extinct in the wild across most of its former range, with only 20–27 wild colonies remaining in Florida.

The work is part of a broader global context: coral cover worldwide has declined 9.5% since 1980–2009. The project aims to preserve genetic diversity and strengthen reef resilience, but restoration outcomes depend on addressing wider threats to reef systems.