Mission to Recover Iconic Coral Reefs
in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Mission to Recover Iconic Coral Reefs in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
NOAA-LED, PARTNER-DRIVEN
MISSION: ICONIC REEFS is a NOAA-led, partner-driven effort that aims to restore structure, function, and resiliency to nearly three million square feet of Florida’s Coral Reef over the next two decades. It is a fundamental change and proactive approach to NOAA coral reef conservation initiated in 2019 to combat the decline of the region’s ecosystem that brings critical services to the nation, generates billions of dollars for the economy, and provides tens of thousands of jobs annually.
The Latest
In the Last 40 Years
Healthy coral cover on reefs in the Florida Keys has declined more than 90 percent. This decline canʼt be blamed on a single cause, but rather a web of interconnected problems. Mission: Iconic Reefs, unparalleled in scope and scale, will require nearly five million outplants to produce 500,000 stony coral colonies, one of the largest investments in reef restoration anywhere in the world.
THE CHALLENGE
Dead Elkhorn coral at Sombrero Reef vividly illustrates the urgent and growing need for coral restoration.
THE SOLUTION
Elkhorn outplants at Carysfort Reef demonstrate how quickly corals can grow in just three years.
THE SITES
Eastern Dry Rocks – Looe Key – Newfound Harbor – Sombrero Reef – Cheeca Rocks – Horseshoe Reef – Carysfort Reef
These reefs span the full geographic range of the region, with a variety of habitats and diversity of human uses. Most crucially, these sites all either have a history of restoration success, or characteristics that suggest restoration is likely to succeed.
Teamwork
7 Reefs – 20 Years – 500k Corals
Life Cycle
Site Preparation
Coral Propagation, Rearing & Planting
Thousands of Algae-Eating Grazers
Stewardship & Maintenance
Monitoring & Adaptive Managment