The ReefLine Gorgonians of Opportunity Collection Mission
DISCOVERY Vessel Knot Golfing
Miami, Florida
July 14, 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 artificial 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 July 14th, The International SeaKeepers Society assisted local marine biologist Colin Foord, and graduate student Sam Schneider, aboard DISCOVERY Vessel Knot Golfing 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.
Location
Miami, Florida
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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