Florida Keys Coral Disease Intervention Strike Teams

The purpose of this project is to support coral disease in-water intervention and actively save priority corals, reef sites, and species from SCTLD within FKNMS. Field teams conduct field and land-based activities to monitor and re-treat corals, treat new corals, and support overall coral reef conservation and management efforts in Florida. From July 1, 2022 – May 31, 2023, a total of 1333 newly infected corals were assessed and treated. Additionally, new lesions on 793 previously-treated corals were treated. Fate-tracking of treated corals documents a 92% survival rate after four years, with minor but significant differences between onshore/offshore reefs and among species.