City and Sanctuary Team up to Protect Corals

In preparation for repairing the seawall at the Key West Aquarium – damaged by Hurricane Irma – The City’s environmental engineering consultant Tetra Tech this week moved several large healthy stony corals that have grown up along the seawall.

Working under a permit by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, biologists inventoried and removed corals for relocating to the sanctuary’s coral nursery nearby in Truman Harbor. Once the coral colonies are safely out of harm’s way, restoration of the damaged waterfront area will continue.

Coral nursery manager Erich Bartels of CBE Marine will care for the corals until they can be used to support critical restoration or research projects.

According to sanctuary officials, rescue of these particular corals is especially important because they are species known to be affected by stony coral tissue loss disease. Identifying healthy corals of susceptible species may aid coral reef managers in stemming losses from the current disease outbreak.

In the attached photo: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary coral nursery manager Erich Bartels swaddles delicate corals retrieved before reconstruction of the seawall at the Key West Aquarium. The corals will be housed at the sanctuary’s nursery in Truman Harbor to be used later for restoration or research.

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