A FWC coral biologist places a brain coral, Diploria labrynthiformes, into a mesh collection bag. Image via FWC – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

via the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Research Institute (FWRI)

FWRI and partners from NOAA Fisheries Service, University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, and Callaway Marine Technologies recently returned from the first coral rescue cruise into the Marquesas Keys, where they successfully collected 345 corals from 15 different species, including those most susceptible to stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) – the event that is causing mortality and drastic losses of coral along the Florida Reef Tract.

Corals were genetically sampled, measured, and carefully maintained in shaded totes during the five-day cruise. The corals were directly transported by FWC Law Enforcement vessels to holding tanks at UM, where they will remain under the care until Association of Zoos and Aquariums facilities are available for long-term care.

To view more photos of FWC’s coral rescue efforts: http://bit.ly/2VeAibC

See more images from the project on the FWRI Flickr gallery.

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