Governor Ron DeSantis Allocates $140 Million for Florida Coral Reef Propagation and Restoration

MIAMI — Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Shawn Hamilton announced on Monday the distribution of $140 million in state marine conservation capital through the Florida Coral Reef Protection and Restoration Program to construct state-of-the-art land-based bio-secure coral gene nurseries and outplant more than 500,000 genetically resilient, heat-tolerant stony corals across the 350-mile Florida Reef Tract.

The investment coordinates public funding with marine research institutions—including the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, Nova Southeastern University, and Mote Marine Laboratory—to scale micro-fragmentation propagation and selective breeding of elkhorn, staghorn, and brain corals capable of surviving elevated ocean summer temperatures.

Protecting Florida's Natural Barrier Against Storm Surges and Sustaining Tourism Florida's Coral Reef Tract is the third-largest living barrier reef in the world, generating over $8.5 billion in annual economic output from recreational diving, commercial fishing, and tourism while attenuating up to 97 percent of ocean wave energy during severe tropical storms.

"Florida's coral reefs are a national ecological treasure and the first line of defense protecting our coastal communities from hurricane storm surges," Governor DeSantis said at the University of Miami marine campus. "Following recent ocean heatwaves, we are taking unprecedented, science-driven action to protect and restore our reef tract. This $140 million investment expands our world-class land-based coral breeding nurseries, outplants half a million resilient corals, and ensures Florida's reefs thrive for future generations."

Coral Propagation and Coastal Infrastructure Upgrades The $140 million program finances:

• Four Regional Land-Based Coral Gene Banks: Constructing climate-controlled seawater raceways holding thousands of genetically distinct broodstock colonies.
• 500,000 Heat-Tolerant Coral Outplantings: Utilizing underwater divers and automated robotic micro-cement anchors to secure nursery-grown corals onto degraded barrier reefs.
• Biscayne Bay & Florida Keys Water Quality Monitoring: $35 million to expand continuous online salinity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient sensors along coastal reef lines.

Marine scientists, recreational diving associations, and commercial charter captains praised the governor's decisive funding, highlighting that genetic coral breeding provides the scientific foundation to rebuild resilient ocean ecosystems.