Corals Evacuated Ahead of Hurricane Milton Return to The Florida Aquarium

November 21, 2024

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Apollo Beach, FL (November 20, 2024) – The Florida Aquarium is welcoming back its coral colonies evacuated ahead of Hurricane Milton. These corals, temporarily housed at partner facilities like the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta and The Reef Institute in West Palm Beach, are returning to the Aquarium’s Coral Conservation and Research Center in Apollo Beach to resume critical conservation and reproductive work.

Today, the Georgia Aquarium delivered approximately 20 coral colonies, including boulder brain, grooved brain, and symmetrical brain coral species. These corals are held as part of the Florida Coral Rescue project and play a vital role in the Aquarium’s breeding program, especially those that have survived stony coral tissue loss disease, and recently in the wild, faced mortality due to prolonged exposure to warmer than normal ocean temperatures.

On Thursday, around 30 pillar corals and a few elkhorn corals will return to The Florida Aquarium from The Reef Institute. These pillar coral colonies represent the only remaining piece of specific parent colonies that exist in the wild or in a facility. Only select coral nursery facilities are permitted to care for pillar coral due to its endangered status and critical conservation need.

NEW video, sound and a photo (LINK) (Courtesy: The Florida Aquarium) from today’s great coral caravan

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO AND PHOTOS
OF THE CORALS BEING EVACUATED IN OCTOBER <<<
Courtesy: The Florida Aquarium

>>> CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO OF THE CORALS
BEING PACKED UP YESTERDAY AT GEORGIA AQUARIUM TO RETURN TO FLORIDA <<<
Courtesy: Georgia Aquarium

WHY IT MATTERS: These efforts are essential for the preservation and future restoration of coral species crucial to marine ecosystems. Coral reefs play a key role in the state’s economy, coastal protection, marine biodiversity, and contributing to scientific advancements. Protecting them is imperative for environmental stability and community resilience against natural disasters. These corals allow scientists from all over the world to continue groundbreaking experiments, such as coral cryopreservation, aimed at preserving coral and restoring Florida’s Coral Reef.

BACKGROUND: In a large-scale effort to protect its coral population ahead of Hurricane Milton, The Florida Aquarium collaborated with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to safely relocate more than 4,300 coral juveniles and 70+ broodstock (parent corals) to prevent damage from potential storm surge and high winds.

The Florida Aquarium’s Coral Conservation Team is responsible for protecting these essential marine animals, not only from environmental threats in the wild but also from natural disasters while in human care. The proactive relocation of corals is part of The Florida Aquarium’s well-coordinated hurricane preparedness plan, developed in collaboration with partners across the country.