The ReefLine Gorgonians of Opportunity Collection Mission
DISCOVERY Vessel Bay Browser
Miami, FL
June 29th, 2025
Project Overview
ReefLine is designing artificial reef structures to be deployed off the coast of Miami (just like the near shore shallow Neon Reef). Miami native gorgonian octocorals will be collected from near shore reefs and fragmented to later be outplanted on the artifical reef structures.
Application
These structures aim to bring back coral reefs which once existed just off of Miami Beach, but were buried and destroyed due to dredging project from decades ago. These new reefs will bring biodiversity back to the Miami Beach coastline.
Expedition Summary
On June 29th, The International SeaKeepers Society assisted local marine biologist Colin Foord, and graduate students Isabelle Dubois and Sam Schneider, aboard DISCOVERY Vessel Bay Browser to collect Miami native gorgonian octocorals from near shore reefs, just off of Fisher Island. These coral fragments will be propagated in a coral nursery lab, and then later outplanted onto artificial reef structures. The team collected an estimate of about 600 - 700 clippings, which gets them closer to their goal of 2200 clippings by October.
Location
Miami, FL
Duration of Project
From June till the end of July. coral outplanting will take place later in the year
Leadership
Research Team
- Colin Foord
- Isabelle Dubois
- Sam Schneider
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