Not Looking Good for Florida's Reefs

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

It seems the record high ocean temps in Florida are killing the coral that the Coral Restoration Foundation have been working so hard to preserve. Regardless of what we believe the cause of the temp is, this is devastating.

HISTORIC HEATWAVE TRIGGERING CORAL DIE-OFF IN FLORIDA

The vibrant coral reefs of Florida, crucial to the local community and the state’s economy, are facing a severe and urgent crisis due to soaring water temperatures. The potential loss of coral populations within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is quickly becoming an alarming reality...

www.coralrestoration.org

 

[Doctorgori]

We posted same topic at the same time, I’ll have the mods remove mine

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

We posted same topic at the same time, I’ll have the mods remove mine

It's cool. Two threads are better than one on this, imo. Mine usually drop off quick anyway. If not, they can mod as they see fit.

 

[Doctorgori]

It's cool. Two threads are better than one on this, imo. Mine usually drop off quick anyway. If not, they can mod as they see fit.

Naw, lets post here, I am waaaaay to tempted to violate the TOS with the sheer stupidity of the causes with laws and policies surrounding this issue…Its killing me not to make snarky remarks….
Edit add:for instance Imagine the sheer amount of dead frags littering the bottom (I guess that’s neutral enuff)

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Darn, this is some devastating news

 

[Uncle99]

This rock is getting hotter.
And while that’s normal evolution, IMO, we help it everyday we drive.
Although, that’s just one man’s opinion.

 

[Treefer32]

This is another reason why I think our coral tanks are so much more critical. I view my tank as a preservation system. The more I can cultivate and propogate, the better. If only our home tanks could be treated as a non profit that we could register as a preservation system!

 

[bobyboy]

I saw that some spots had a water temperature over 100* for 2 days in a row…

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Yikes. I imagine that with water temps as high as 100F, most of the reefs in the affected area are toast. I wouldn't be surprised if fish die off as well.

 

[Oldreefer44]

Not only that but now there is grave concern that ocean currents will change and in some cases come to a standstill. Since coral reefs supply about a third of pelagic food for larger fish then this could just be the beginning.

 

[ninjamyst]

This is another reason why I think our coral tanks are so much more critical. I view my tank as a preservation system. The more I can cultivate and propogate, the better. If only our home tanks could be treated as a non profit that we could register as a preservation system!

In the grand scheme of things, our hobby does not help reef system in the wild. The amount of corals that die in transit and in tanks far out weigh what we can aquaculture.

 

[csnmusic02]

Yea Florida resident it’s been pretty miserable in the state lately

 

[Oldreefer44]

Wonder if even the "live" rock sources will still be live.

 

[Astronomical]

That picture is a sad sight.

However, and I don't mean to sound callous it's definitely sad, but these things happen from time to time. 10ish years ago we had record back to back cold fronts that had temps in the low 40s high 30s for around two weeks (very cold for south Florida). It killed coral and even fish.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have friends who boat outside of Miami port and fish and they said 60% or more has turned white. Today was relief as it was 88 degrees opposed to 106

 

[steveschuerger]

Wonder if even the "live" rock sources will still be live.

grab that rock while you can ! Deep water benthic species might hold on a bit longer but the overall effect is going to look like a wasteland. And might I say humans are the dumbest “smart“ animals out there. An example is Spain where their version of the Republican Party is sharing power for the first time in 50 years. They want to drill for more water for their cash crops in an area that’s already is about 50% drier than it was 15 years ago. So I lament for the future of corals and the oceans in general with this attitude that is more prevalent than we’d care to admit.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

My initial thought was on the work that the CRF did that just got wiped away. They are trying to remove other planted coral and bring them back into their facility before they too get wiped out. Some species of staghorn and elkhorn are threatened in that area.

 

[LightingBug]

I go to Key Largo several times a year and have been since I was 5-ish (about 40 years)
Every time I go we grab our scuba gear and head to the reefs esp. Pennekamp park reef and the one with the Jesus statue.

For years I would see growth in and new types of marine life. There was a particular fire coral that got a big as a refrigerator from basketball sized over several years. The local Barracuda seemed to grow with me until it got about 6-ish feet long and fat as well. Those are gone. Like they never existed.

Years ago I started noticing no growth/limited growth and now I see bleached or melted coral and several spots it's just sand and rock where corals were.

It is saddening.

 

[Astronomical]

The local Barracuda seemed to grow with me until it got about 6-ish feet long and fat as well. Those are gone. Like they never existed.

The barracuda are mostly gone due to years of unfortunately unregulated commercial fishing in Florida.

We don't eat them much here but they're a delicacy in the Bahamas and other places.

 

[Joe.D]

That picture is a sad sight.

However, and I don't mean to sound callous it's definitely sad, but these things happen from time to time. 10ish years ago we had record back to back cold fronts that had temps in the low 40s high 30s for around two weeks (very cold for south Florida). It killed coral and even fish.

I’d beg to differ that these things happen from time to time. 100 degree ocean temperatures don‘t happen from time to time, at least in Florida.