With unseasonably high ocean temperatures in the Florida Keys, local coral reefs are bleaching, a stress response which increases susceptibility to disease, predation and mortality. Mote Marine Laboratory, in partnership with Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, is seeking volunteers to monitor for heat-driven bleaching throughout the Florida Keys.
Cory Walter, Mote senior biologist and BleachWatch coordinator, will lead three additional BleachWatch training sessions in the coming weeks to engage volunteer divers and snorkelers in the Florida Keys BleachWatch program. BleachWatch provides critical monitoring data before, during and after coral bleaching events in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
As a community-based reporting program, BleachWatch relies on a large network of trained observers to be “eyes on the water,” providing regular reports on actual coral conditions. This field observation data is synthesized with NOAA’s monitoring data to provide scientists, resource managers and the public summaries of current conditions on Florida reefs. The data is also essential to inform future restoration strategy.
Mote’s BleachWatch program has operated since 2005 in partnership with the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). BleachWatch receives funding from NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program and from the Protect Our Reefs grants program, which distributes funds from sales of Florida’s Protect Our Reefs specialty license plate.
Recreational and professional divers and snorkelers can get involved by attending an upcoming training session led by Mote. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. No scientific background is needed.
- Wednesday, Aug. 2: 6 p.m. at the Keys History & Discovery Center, 82100 Overseas Highway, Islamorada
- Saturday, Aug. 5: 10 a.m. at Reefhouse Resort & Marina Conference Center, 103800 Overseas Highway, Key Largo
- Saturday, Aug. 12: 10 a.m. at Florida Keys Country Club, 4000 Sombrero Boulevard, Marathon
Pre-registration is requested at mote.org/bleachwatch. If unable to attend an in-person workshop, online training is also available at mote.org/bleachwatch. For more information contact Cory Walter at: cwalter@mote.org or 305-395-8730.
