Keys Marine Lab

On Sept. 23, staff from the Coral Protection and Restoration Program (CPR) and Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) conducted a site visit to Keys Marine Lab (KML). The tour consisted of a brief history of the origins of the grounds and a look at the various holding systems at KML. The facility is a hub that provides the tools and infrastructure for academic, research and restoration groups to conduct their work. KML has supported over 150 research groups from 44 organizations across 26 countries. Through resilience funding from CPR, KML provides a critical link in the restoration nursery-to-reef pipeline. In-house Coral Care and Husbandry Specialist on staff support research and development for holding corals and other reef organisms to enhance positive outcomes for all restoration partners. Additionally, the KML systems currently serve as critical refuge in the Middle Keys for rapid Emergency Disturbance Response, including warm water events, cold water events and hurricane evacuation.