Decades of Preparation Saved Florida’s Corals from Total Loss

In 2023, an unprecedented marine heatwave swept through the Caribbean, causing severe bleaching and mortality among coral populations. In the Florida Keys, two foundation species—elkhorn coral and staghorn coral—faced a critical threat. These corals, which have been the focus of restoration for decades, suffered substantial losses across wild colonies, outplanted populations, and ocean-based nurseries.

Yet, they were not lost entirely. According to a recent analysis, the prevention of regional extirpation—local extinction—was only possible due to twenty years of prior restoration activity. This established infrastructure included a collaborative community of experts, redundant ocean and land-based nurseries, and, crucially, two independent land-based gene banks that preserved the species' genetic richness.

Researchers highlight that without this proactive network and the emergency response during the thermal anomaly, Florida’s acroporids would largely have vanished. The success relies on strategies such as building trust-focused relationships between management agencies, testing interventions to reduce light and temperature stress, and maintaining living gene banks before disaster strikes. This outcome serves as a powerful proof of concept: proactive conservation resources are essential defences against the intensifying effects of climate change.