Share to ClassroomMiami Scientists Move Coral to Land
On 22 July 2026, scientists at the University of Miami moved 30 pieces of elkhorn coral from the sea to tanks on land in Florida. They want to protect the coral from very hot ocean water this summer. Divers picked pieces with different genes and carried them carefully to indoor tanks. A university scientist, Diego Lirman, said 2026 could be a very bad year for coral bleaching, when coral turns white from heat and can die.
Elkhorn coral was once very important for building reefs. But heat waves in 2023 and 2024 killed most of it along Florida's coast. Now so little is left that the coral can not make new coral in the wild. This year the water is getting hot even faster. NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has raised its warning. Some teams are trying a different plan. They leave special coral, mixed with a type from Honduras, on the reef to see if it can survive the heat.
Reefs are important. They help fishing, protect the coast from storms, and bring tourists. NOAA gave the university 16 million dollars over four years to lead ten groups. But the timing is hard, because the coral will breed in early August. Moving it too soon could stop this. The state also cut money it had promised.
