Multi-species Coral Rescue in Response to the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) on the Florida Reef Tract

The Florida Reef Tract (FRT) is experiencing an unprecedented disease outbreak described as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). First reported near Miami in 2014, SCTLD has since spread to the northernmost extent of the FRT in Martin County and southwestward through the lower Florida Keys resulting in the mortality of thousands of colonies from >20 coral species, including primary reef builders and species listed under the Endangered Species Act. Efforts to identify the pathogen(s) of SCTLD, determine the mode(s) of transmission, and develop potential intervention techniques are currently underway, but our limited understanding of SCTLD greatly impedes management efforts to control the spread of this virulent disease. A multi-agency, multi-disciplinary Coral Rescue Team (CRT) was developed to: 1) design and implement a reef-tract wide coral collection plan for SCTLD-susceptible species, 2) preserve representative portions of the remaining genetic diversity of FRT corals in captivity, and 3) plan for future propagation, restoration, and reintroduction of such corals to the wild. With rescue efforts currently underway, the results of the CRT are expanding and evolving. To date, nearly 2,000 corals have been collected from 22 targeted species from the Lower Keys to the Dry Tortugas. Rescued corals are housed throughout the United States at intermediate and long-term facilities including the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, non-governmental organizations, and universities. Concurrently, and until a time that rescue corals can be reintroduced to the wild, sexual and asexual propagation techniques are underway including the successful spawning of both brooding and broadcast spawning species.