Location
Florida
Partners
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Release Date
Summer 2019
Location
Florida
Partners
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Release Date
Summer 2019
A groundbreaking end-to-end survey of America's only barrier reef.
A groundbreaking end-to-end survey of America's only barrier reef.
Overview
OceanX has catalyzed an ambitious expedition, in collaboration with MOTE MARINE LABORATORY AND AQUARIUM, SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY, WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION and BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES VIBRANT OCEANS INITIATIVE. We are collectively doing an end-to-end reef survey of the entire FLORIDA REEF TRACT to better understand what factors wield most influence on coral reef health—whether it’s external pollution factors, ecological factors, or microbiological factors—by taking the vital signs of the entire reef. But why this reef system, and why now? Over the decades, the reef system has been pushed to its limit from impacts of climate change, overfishing, pollution, disease, and physical destruction. These multiple stressors have resulted in serious declines of reef health, and have likely contributed to large quantities of coral succumbing to the ongoing breakout of stony coral tissue loss sisease along the reef tract. Although Florida has made significant strides in protecting the reef, there is more that can be done by improving water quality, curbing pollution, preventing offshore drilling and supporting coral reef restoration.
Why We Do It?
Our Beliefs And Motivations
OceanX believes in ocean solutions driven by ocean exploration and discovery. We have hope that scientific knowledge from this expedition would actually give new information that can help people revive the once vibrant and now beleaguered reefs of Florida. More than 70,000 people’s livelihoods, and billions of dollars in recreational, fishing, and coastal protection value combine to make healthy reefs in Florida an essential part of the economy, and a symbol synonymous with Southern Florida community identity and life. We are driven by knowledge that a shared prosperity between nature and people is possible. And by urgency. What solutions we implement or not for the oceans in the next 10 years will determine what the oceans look like in 100 years. We are in Florida on the brink of a new decade dedicated to global oceans because we know there are solutions to even tough environmental problems. If we figure out how to revive the reefs in Florida, we can figure it out anywhere. Impacted by overfishing, pollution, climate change, physical habitat destruction, five percent of the original reef is still holding on. Regrettably, what’s left is now running the gauntlet between these offenses and an outbreak of coral disease. We will find which corals and which parts of the reefs are resistant to coral disease, which parts are able to bounce back (resilient), what is causing the disease and therefore how to stop it, and what types of human interventions are most helpful.
