Description
Scientists from the University of Miami, the Florida Aquarium, and Tela Coral in Honduras are transplanting crossbred coral fragments onto a reef off Miami's coast.
The reef was devastated by coral bleaching two years ago.
The team is introducing corals from Honduras, where warmer waters have helped them thrive, to increase the reef's resilience to rising ocean temperatures.
On Tuesday, divers planted Elkhorn coral fragments, a species critical for protecting shorelines.
This marks the first international crossbreeding of corals for wild reef restoration.
Researchers hope these corals will better tolerate heat, offering a model for future conservation efforts across the Caribbean.