Florida’s reef tract protects our shorelines from major storms and attracts more than 16 million visitors a year, supporting over 71,000 jobs and providing $6.3 billion to Florida’s economy alone. Over the last 40 years, Florida’s corals have declined in many areas by more than 90 percent. With support from numerous donors, including Barancik Foundation investments totaling $625,000, Mote Marine Laboratory built a new research lab in Key West to expand its coral reef and research restoration.
Mote scientists utilize a breakthrough technique called “re-skinning” to rapidly fuse and form live coral over dead coral skeleton. They also study climate change, marine life conservation, sustainable aquaculture, and other issues that impact our environment both here in Florida and around the world.
