Breeding Hope: The Florida Aquarium Begins First Coral Spawning Since Last Summer’s Record-Breaking Ocean Heatwave

May 5, 2024

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Apollo Beach, FL (May 5, 2024) – The Florida Aquarium’s Coral Conservation and Research Center kickstarts a season of hope as the first signs of coral spawning emerged in their facility this weekend amid concerning global coral bleaching events and in the wake of last summer’s record ocean temperatures threatening coral species.

Facing the continued environmental crisis, the Aquarium’s biologists have seen a promising development: the grooved brain coral initiating this year’s spawning season. This is the sixth year the grooved brain corals have spawned at the Aquarium, and now biologists can accurately predict when the species will spawn in the lab. The Florida Aquarium biologists share this data with field researchers to help determine when to watch for the grooved brain coral to spawn in the wild.

Spawning of eight different species is anticipated through September at The Florida Aquarium, including elkhorn and staghorn corals, which suffered devastating losses during last summer’s bleaching event on Florida’s Coral Reef.

“We lost probably 80 percent or more of our elkhorn coral that was alive on the reef in one summer,” said Keri O’Neil, Director of the Coral Conservation Program at The Florida Aquarium. “Some of our boulder and brain coral species did a little better—they bleached, but they were able to recover. We did have some mortality, but not to the extent that we did with our elkhorn and staghorn.”

Especially in light of the dire circumstances, The Florida Aquarium remains committed to coral conservation. The center’s recent expansion, doubling the size of the facility, is more critical than ever in coral science, research and restoration work. The center serves as a land-based sanctuary for preserving coral genetics and fostering reproductive success. Through innovative techniques such as simulating natural spawning conditions, the Aquarium aims to bolster coral populations and contribute to reef restoration efforts.

“The number one thing we can do is preserve the coral parents that will make the next generation of corals. We keep the parents alive and healthy, give them a place they can reproduce safely and work on raising those offspring. Then, we can try to figure out which offspring are best suited to survive on Florida’s Coral Reef,” said O’Neil. “Our purpose is to produce new combinations of offspring, the next generation of corals, to go back out onto Florida’s Coral Reef.”

Highlights from The Florida Aquarium’s coral restoration and reproductive efforts last summer:

• Elkhorn coral was severely impacted by the 2023 marine heat wave. Before it was lost in the wild, biologists added more fragments to The Aquarium’s breeding program, resulting in approximately 1,700 new elkhorn coral offspring.
• The Aquarium’s experts joined the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Heat Response Team in the Keys this past summer, an unprecedented mobilization aiding in the care of 5,000 temporarily relocated corals.
• The Florida Aquarium completed its fifth successful year of spawning, producing millions of coral babies in the laboratory.

What’s Next:

• Grooved brain coral is anticipated to spawn again in early June.
• Biologists at The Florida Aquarium are hopeful for spawning events of elkhorn, staghorn and pillar coral beginning in July.

It is estimated that Florida’s coral reefs have an $8 billion value, support 70,000+ jobs, and provide areas for recreation and tourism, habitat for seafood, and coastal protection to beaches and homes.

For more information on how the Aquarium is making history in its coral restoration and reproductive work, check out this fact sheet and visit The Florida Aquarium’s website.