Resources

• NOAA Coral Reef Watch Home Page - A dashboard where you can find Bleaching Alerts, degree heating weeks, sea surface temperatures, etc., by region and specific area. 

• NOAA Coral Reef Watch Florida Specific Single Pixel Virtual Stations - A dashboard where you can find information on 19 specific reefs along Florida's Coral Reef. 

• Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Aqualink - A free, open-source platform that provides a real-time data for sites in the Florida Keys. 

• BleachWatch Dashboard - An early warning network for coral bleaching and disease in southeast Florida.

• SEAFAN.net - Members of the public and community scientists can learn more and report incidents here. 

  • • Folks can also call the SEAFAN hotline at 866-770-SEFL (7335) 

• Florida Keys BleachWatch -  Trained individuals can report bleaching in the Florida Keys here. 

• South Florida BleachWatch - Trained individuals can report bleaching in Southeast Florida here. 

• FWC's Disturbance Response Monitoring Program (DRM) - annual surveys conducted during peak bleaching months (Aug-Oct) on randomly selected sites along Florida’s Coral Reef. Collects data on coral density, diversity, size, and condition of stony corals, including capturing disease and bleaching prevalence. This is the predominant source of data for bleaching corals in Florida.

• FWC's Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (CREMP) and Nova Southeastern University's Southeast Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (SECREMP) - SECREMP annually surveys 22 sites in Southeast Florida and CREMP surveys 51 permanent monitoring sites in the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. Collects data on coral population demographics and health, including diversity, size, and condition of stony corals.

• NOAA's  National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) - biennial surveys to monitor coral populations, benthic communities, and fish populations.

Florida's Coral Reef is threatened by a combination of local and global stressors that work together to degrade the ecosystem. Local stressors like land-based pollution, physical damage from vessels and marine debris, invasive species, and diseases are exacerbated by global stressors like warming ocean temperatures, extreme weather events, and ocean acidification. 

However, it is not too late to do something about it! Through responsible conservation and restoration, we can help recover the ecosystem so that it is resilient for years to come. Our ultimate goal is to put Mother Nature back in the driver's seat so that she can rebuild Florida's Coral Reef.

There is more effort being put towards coral reef research, conservation, and restoration than at any previous point in history. We are learning are breakneck speed, trialing new conservation tools and strategies, enacting protective regulations and law, and so much more. While this might be one of the most challenging times for coral reefs globally, it is also one of the most exciting! 

Whether you live on the beach or thousands of miles away, there is plenty that you can do to support Florida's Coral Reef.

If you're spending time on Florida's Coral Reef, you can...

• Ensure you are recreating responsibly. 

• Become a community scientist by reporting any marine incidents such as coral bleaching, invasive species, or boat damage on a reef.

• Help clean your local beach, reef, or waterway.

• Get involved in your local community and local politics. 

Anyone, anywhere can help by... 

• Reducing carbon emissions.

• Choosing sustainable seafood.

• Refusing, Reducing, Reusing, Recycling.

• Conserving water.

• Using fertilizers and pesticides sparingly and wisely.

• Investing in coral conservation and restoration, such as by learning more about your local reef and joining reef supporting events (i.e. beach clean ups, community restoration projects). 

While individuals can help protect Florida's Coral Reef, it's also important to engage government officials who also have the power to drive durational change. 

Folks can help engage their officials by...

• Writing or calling your government officials and representatives about the importance of your local reef to the community. Let them know the reef is important to you!

• Attending public meetings and or webinars to learn more, provide public comment, or ask questions about coral reef initiatives.

• Partnering with local environmental organization that advocate for reef protection.

• Voting with the reed in mind. Research candidates’ environmental policies, especially those related to marine ecosystems.