What do we do?

Rescue a Reef focuses on the research and restoration of Southeast Florida's coral.

Coral Restoration

Florida Reef Track

Coral restoration focuses on propagating coral stocks within nurseries – imagine underwater coral farms, where coral fragments are then outplanted onto degraded reefs which helps increase the growth of the reef. Rescue a reef uses strong, science-based techniques to grow threatened coral species and create a sustainable source of healthy coral colonies for use in active reef restoration.

Explore Reef Sites

Coral outplanting in numbers

40,000

+

Corals outplanted

Number of coral fragments planted up until today

3X

Speed growth

How much faster do our corals grow compared to natural colonies?

90

%

Survivorship

What is the average survivorship of outplanted corals?

5 acres

Corals coverage

How much area has been covered with new corals?

2K meters

Linear extension

What is the total linear extension of outplanted corals?

High

Diversity

Diversity of coral species in the outplanted ecosystem

Fish survey

How many new species are living on the outplanted reef?

Coral nurseries

Coral nurseries are habitats dedicated to foster coral growth. Many nurseries have “coral trees” where the fragments are suspended like Christmas tree ornaments. Studies have shown that the suspending of coral fragments in the water column accelerates their growth drastically, while also protecting them from excess sedimentation on the ocean floor.

Coral nurseries are

Natural spawning

Coral spawning is an annual phenomenon during which corals of the same species synchronize the release of sperm and eggs (gametes) into the water column over several days following the full moon 🌚. The little white balls that look like snow are coral gametes! Natural spawning is a great sign of healthy corals, as they don't spawn when they are sick or stressed.

Coral Science

Coral reef science can drastically help future coral generations survive, by choosing more heat-resistant genotypes, or conducting experiments to maximize coral reef survival. RAR focuses on coastal resilience through coral reef research, restoration, and citizen science.

currently working on

Testing hybrid coral reef structures to enhance coastal protection

coastal protection

Coral species we work on

A. cervicornis

A. palmata

M. cavernosa

O. faveolata

A. prolifera
D. labyrinthiformis
P. clivosa
S. siderea
C. natans
P. strigosa

Top research publications

Top projects funded with grants

15

total PROJECTS

in grants

Institution

Project

Grant

Year

NFWF
Restoration Hub
$3,000,000
2020
FWC
SCTLD Restoration
$3,000,000
2022
NOAA
SCTLD & Sedimentation
$1,000,000
2022
FDEP
Influence of Coral Size
$1,000,000
2022
FDEP
100 Yards of Hope
$200,000
2020

Coral Education

We work to educate the public about coral reefs and sustainability, through tabling events, informational talks, lab tours, beach clean-ups, and diving expeditions.

community in numbers

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next diving expedition

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Get involved

Our coral leaders

Diego Lirman

Lab Director

Dalton Hesley

Program Manager

Martine Strueben

Senior Researcher

Joe Unsworth

Senior Researcher
Meet the team

Funding

There are three main areas in which coral conservation organizations usually focus their resources on: coral restoration, coral science & research and last but not least, coral education. This is a breakdown for how this organization distributes their funds.

funds distribution in 2021

Restoration
Local Conservation
Education
Science