DeSantis grants $9.5 million in awards to Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $9.5 million in awards Friday to Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative, which bolsters academic and private partnerships to safeguard Florida’s Coral Reef.

“Florida’s Coral Reef spans 350 miles from the Dry Tortugas to St. Lucie Inlet,” DeSantis said on X. “I’m pleased to award $9.5 million in funding through Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative to restore our state’s coral reefs and enhance coral recovery.”

The initiative, established under Executive Order 23-06, ensures state development to infrastructure and capacity for coral propagation. It also helps develop technology, a skilled workforce, and logistics in supporting long-term recovery and restoration of Florida’s Coral Reef.

“Florida’s Coral Reef protects Southeast Florida against approaching storms and attracts visitors year-round,” DeSantis said in a release. “Safeguarding our coral reef is important both environmentally and economically and we will continue to support projects that keep this natural resource healthy.”

According to DeSantis, more than $11 million has been allocated to continue Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative, which is part of the governor’s Focus on Florida’s Future budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024-25.

Awardees will perform specific functions based on funding requests. They include the following expansions:

• Expansion of land-based propagation infrastructure and capacity including the rearing of species most impacted by Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.
• Expansion of research, in-water staging and development of propagation curriculum
• Expansion of coral restoration efforts, including off-shore grow-out nurseries.
• Expansion of facilities to care for threatened coral species, such as Pillar Coral.
• Expansion of yearly outplanting efforts.

“As we tackle environmental challenges, we understand that preparation and planning make all the difference,” Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton said. “We are extremely thankful that this administration has prioritized environmental initiatives, because without them, we might be facing a different outcome for Florida’s Coral Reef.”

Since 2019, DeSantis and the Florida Legislature have devoted over $50 million specifically for coral reef recovery and restoration, which enabled Florida’s multifaceted response to the past summer’s event.