University of Miami awarded $16 million NOAA grant for groundbreaking coral restoration project

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Florida Construction News staff writer

Scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science and partners were recently awarded a four-year, $16 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Habitat Conservation Program Office, to lead a program to implement and scale-up new approaches to increase the climate resilience of Florida’s restored coral reefs.

New research will focus on restoration action and unite the Rosenstiel School with ten other South Florida partners – Mote Marine Laboratory, Nova Southeastern University, The Florida Aquarium, Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science (Frost Science), Smithsonian Marine Station, The Reef Institute, Reef Renewal USA, SECORE International, Biscayne National Park, and AECOM– to form a network that shares new knowledge, resources, and best practices to maximize the ability of newly restored corals to survive climate change impacts.

In response to the unprecedented marine heatwave of 2023, which resulted in record levels of coral bleaching across Florida’s Coral Reef, the team aims to scale up new coral restoration practices to enhance the resilience of these vital marine ecosystems. The project will take place across multiple sites in South Florida, including in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties.

“Florida’s Coral Reef is facing one of its greatest challenges yet, and our team is committed to pioneering new approaches to ensure its survival,” said Andrew Baker, the lead of the project and a professor in the Department of Marine Biology and Ecology and director of the Coral Reef Futures Lab at the Rosenstiel School. “With NOAA’s support, we plan to implement groundbreaking approaches that incorporate newly emerging science into restoration efforts designed to enhance coral resilience to increasingly warm oceans”.

The initiative will also develop and leverage innovative technology developed through previous research, such as new cement materials, hydrogels, and anti-algal coatings, to improve coral recruit survivorship and overall restoration efficacy.

The coral reefs of Southeast Florida are facing devastating losses from the combination of climate change, disease, poor water quality, and other factors. These critical ecosystems support valuable commercial and recreational fishing as well as Florida’s tourism industry. According to NOAA, coral reefs in Southeast Florida generate $2 billion in annual revenues and support 70,400 jobs. In addition, Southeast Florida’s reefs play an important role in protecting people and property from the effects of hurricanes, such as flooding and storm surge, along the highly urbanized coastlines of Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.

“This collaborative project exemplifies the kind of innovative, community-focused solutions we need to protect Florida’s Coral Reef,” said Baker. “By enhancing coral resilience, this project will contribute to coastal protection efforts in South Florida, highlighting the invaluable role of healthy reefs in safeguarding urban infrastructure from flooding and erosion.”

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