Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery (FCR3)

DEP Coral Protection and Restoration Program’s Restoration Projects Coordinator, Katie Gretter, participated in a multi-day, hands-on Coral Spawning and Propagation Course hosted by Nova Southeastern University. The course, developed and supported through Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery (FCR3) Initiative, aims to train the next generation of coral restoration specialists and to share knowledge on best practices amongst Florida practitioners. Participants came from institutions across the state, including Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Smithsonian Marine Station, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute of Florida Atlantic University, Mote Marine Laboratory, Seaworld Coral Rescue, Coral Restoration Foundation, Reef Renewal USA, and Florida Aquarium. The comprehensive course covered key aspects across the so-called ‘propagation pipeline’, including in-water and land-based spawning techniques, fertilization, larval care, settlement, water chemistry, aquarium system design, biosecurity, coral husbandry, micro-fragmentation, and coral feeding. Efforts like this are key to the long-term sustainability of coral reef restoration in Florida and to achieving the ambitious goals of the FCR3 Initiative.