Scientists have relocated 30 pieces of elkhorn coral from offshore nurseries in Florida to an onshore hatchery to protect the species from the threat of rising water temperatures that could cause another severe bleaching event this summer. The transfer took place near Key Biscayne, Florida, amid concerns that 2026 may see bleaching conditions even more intense than those recorded in 2023.

Elkhorn coral populations along the Florida coast, particularly from Broward County to the Florida Keys, have suffered massive declines following heat waves in 2023 and 2024. According to Diego Lirman, associate professor of marine biology at the University of Miami, these events have left the coral functionally extinct in the wild, with surviving colonies too small and dispersed to reproduce effectively. Coral bleaching, triggered by sustained elevated temperatures, can cause fatal stress to coral reefs.

In response, researchers have been cultivating elkhorn coral in coastal nurseries to encourage growth and genetic diversity. With ocean temperatures indicating continued heat stress and potential for another major bleaching, experts opted to bring select genetically diverse coral fragments ashore for closer monitoring and care. Divers carefully collected each piece, wrapped them in wet bubble wrap, transported them in cooled containers, and transferred them to sanitized tanks at the university’s hatchery facility.

Elkhorn coral is a vital species that contributes to reef ecosystems supporting seafood industries, tourism, and coastal protection. However, climate change-driven warming has led to four mass bleaching events in the region over the past decade, limiting the corals’ ability to recover, according to Lirman. “They seem to be blending into each other and corals are not getting time to recover,” he said.

To safeguard the species’ genetic diversity, the University of Miami shares coral samples with researchers and institutions elsewhere. This practice aims to preserve a breadth of genetic traits that may include resistance to disease, temperature extremes, or ocean acidification. Such genetic reservoirs are critical for future restoration efforts, especially as environmental conditions become more challenging.

Lirman emphasized that losing these corals would mean the permanent loss of valuable genetic information that could be key to the species' survival. The current conservation efforts represent a proactive approach to ensuring elkhorn coral can withstand ongoing climate pressures and remain a part of Florida’s marine ecosystems.