Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Last week ~200 long-spined sea urchins (Diadema) were released onto a reef in the middle Florida Keys. Long-spined urchins are a vital member of Florida’s Coral Reef, where they are important grazers, removing algae that can reduce the health of the reef. However, their population drastically declined in the 1980’s due to an undetermined disease and has never fully recovered. In collaboration with University of Florida and The Florida Aquarium, FWC researchers are working to restore the species to Florida’s Coral Reef as part of a coral reef restoration strategy.
The released urchins were the result of captive-spawning and were let go on a series of experimental plots enhanced with staghorn coral and/or artificial shelters designed to mimic urchin shelter. FWC will monitor these sites regularly to assess how enhancing habitat on coral reef restoration sites can increase the survival of the species once released back into the wild.
This research is being conducted under a permit issued by the NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Last week ~200 long-spined sea urchins (Diadema) were released onto a reef in the middle Florida Keys. Long-spined urchins are a vital member of Florida’s Coral Reef, where they are important grazers, removing algae that can reduce the health of the reef. However, their population drastically declined in the 1980’s due to an undetermined disease and has never fully recovered. In collaboration with University of Florida and The Florida Aquarium, FWC researchers are working to restore the species to Florida’s Coral Reef as part of a coral reef restoration strategy.
The released urchins were the result of captive-spawning and were let go on a series of experimental plots enhanced with staghorn coral and/or artificial shelters designed to mimic urchin shelter. FWC will monitor these sites regularly to assess how enhancing habitat on coral reef restoration sites can increase the survival of the species once released back into the wild.
This research is being conducted under a permit issued by the NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
