Florida Reef Tract Coral Disease Outbreak

Coral rescue missions shift into high gear

Scientists collect valuable corals outside the disease zone to preserve genetic biodiversity for restoration purposes. Credit: Jennifer Moore/NOAA

A rescue mission in early May 2019 collected approximately 350 select corals representing the genetic diversity that will be required for restoration of the Florida Reef Tract. Scientists from NOAA, FWC, Callaway Marine Technologies, and the University of Miami spent five days in the Marquesas west of Key West retrieving a variety of species not yet afflicted with stony coral tissue loss disease. The corals are quarantined at the University of Miami before being transported to an aquarium for long-term care and study. During the second phase of the rescue mission in late May, scientists plan to work from a liveaboard vessel for six days with a goal of collecting 450 more corals.

FWC's panel on coral disease highlights partnerships, response efforts

At its May meeting near Tallahassee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) hosted a panel of experts to discuss the multi-year stony coral tissue loss disease along the Florida Reef Tract.

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease: Lessons Learned & Resources from Florida

Hear from Dana Wusinich-Mendez (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), Maurizio Martinelli (Florida Sea Grant), and Dr. Andrew Bruckner (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary) as they discuss the current knowledge of stony coral tissue loss disease, Florida's response to this disease outbreak, the status in the Caribbean, and current resources available.

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Coral disease learning exchange supports regional response

Credit: Karen Neely/Nova Southeastern University

Partners involved in Florida's stony coral tissue loss disease response met April 30-May 3, 2019, with a visiting team of scientists and coral reef managers from the U.S. Virgin Islands to discuss response efforts and lessons learned. Disease signs similar to those in Florida first appeared southwest of St. Thomas, USVI, in December 2018 and have continued to spread in that area. This learning exchange was sponsored by NOAA's Office for Coastal Management and The Nature Conservancy's Reef Resilience Program. It included classroom and field training on the best available intervention and monitoring techniques currently being used in Florida, and additional information sharing about ongoing research efforts, rescue of genetic material, restoration planning, data management, citizen engagement opportunities, and communication about the disease with the broader community. Beyond connecting managers from across U.S. coral reef jurisdictions, this learning exchange provided an opportunity for response partners in Florida to help the USVI better and more quickly respond to the disease outbreak, and also provided additional opportunities to coordinate on finding a solution.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission leadership focuses on disease response

On April 6, 2019, FWC Chairman Robert Spottswood attended one of many trips researchers have been making to conserve Florida's important coral reef ecosystem.

A network of scientists from the FWC, the Florida Aquarium, the Coral Restoration Foundation, NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Keys Marine Lab, the University of Florida, Nova Southeastern University and Mote Marine Laboratory are working to combat the disease by introducing corals into specific locations.

"Innovative partnerships like this are vital to this complicated mission," Spottswood said. "The hands-on work of these experts is vital to strengthening our coral reefs and ensuring a positive future for this ecosystem."

Former military divers come to the aid of scientists combating coral disease

In April 2019, FORCE BLUE divers working with scientists from Nova Southeastern University are completing a 50 day dive mission to treat diseased coral colonies in the Florida Keys. Veterans with the nonprofit organization utilize their unique skills to apply antibiotic and chlorine treatments on diseased corals in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The experimental treatments, funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, aim to save priority coral colonies and provide scientific insight into stony coral tissue loss disease. As a bonus, the work also provides former combat divers with a new mission – saving Florida’s coral reefs.

Project Protect - Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Interdiction

Have you seen this tag?

Divers and snorkelers in the Florida Keys can assist in monitoring the effectiveness of experimental treatments on diseased corals. You’ll find hundreds of tags on treated corals at Carysfort South, Key Largo Dry Rocks, Grecian, Molasses, Crocker, Sombrero, and Looe Key reefs. Snap photos of the tag, the whole coral colony and any lesions or lines, especially near any nails in the skeleton. Then, upload the photos to seafan.net/tags. The visuals will help scientists determine how the disease is responding to various treatments.