Coral Reefs

Elkhorn coral babies, affectionately called "Flonduran" corals by researchers at the Rosenstiel School at the University of Miami, were planted in Biscayne Bay on July 1. This is the first time internationally crossbred corals have ever been planted in wild reefs.

The researchers, with others from Honduras, are looking for ways to help reefs survive increased temps caused by global warming. The work could provide a blueprint for working across the Caribbean to share corals.

Finding more heat-resistant coral species could be the key to staving off their extinction as ocean temperatures are expected to continue rising.

Against the odds of a warming ocean, the next generation of corals heads out to sea.

The "coral defenders" are made of plastic called PHA. Similar to a potato starch, it naturally breaks down when exposed, especially to salt water.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said the plan, which took more than a decade to hammer out, failed to pave the way for artificial reefs in state waters and stripped Florida of managing its own wildlife.

Pillar corals were supposed to become "endangered" on Tuesday, but that was before a recent freeze pushed it back to March.

Left to nature, coral’s mating prospects are somewhat restricted by their inability to walk, fly or swipe Tinder to find a mate.

Rising ocean temperatures and diseases continue to stress Florida's coral reefs. Sarasota scientists managed to breed one of the most difficult species to keep in captivity.

A draft update to the state's water quality rules omits a recommendation to set stricter limits on turbidity that can damage imperiled reefs.

A Florida county is in talks to acquire a storied but aging ocean liner in a proposed deal that could create the largest artificial reef in the world. But the plan hit a snag Tuesday, after local officials in coastal Okaloosa County in the Florida panhandle postponed a vote on the plan to buy and purposefully sink the SS United States.

"By freezing these larvae, they can be held for literally hundreds of years," said Keri O'Neil with the Florida Aquarium.