Taylor Berard, Lower Keys community engagement coordinator for Mote Marine Lab, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the lab.
Veterans, many of whom have sustained amputations or other injuries during military service, travel to the Keys to work alongside Mote researchers during a special two-week event, which began recently. Participants board boats, scuba dive and visit coral nurseries to assist with restoration efforts.
“It’s their favorite time to volunteer out of everything that they do,” Berard said. “It’s definitely one of the coolest things to see.”
The group traditionally visits during the summer, but Mote is expanding the partnership to include two visits each year. During a previous visit, the veterans set a record for the number of coral pieces they microfragmented at the laboratory.
Microfragmentation is a process of asexual coral reproduction that Mote pioneered in the early 1990s. The technique allows researchers to produce coral fragments for restoration projects.
The work takes place at Mote’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration on Cudjoe Key. The 19,000-square-foot facility, located along U.S. 1 at 2422 Overseas Highway, houses research programs and coral restoration operations, including a nursery containing more than 20,000 coral fragments.
The laboratory also welcomes visitors interested in learning more about its work. Public tours are offered Tuesdays at 10 a.m., providing a behind-the-scenes look at coral research, restoration techniques and the technology used by scientists.
Berard said the facility, completed in 2017, attracts researchers and students from around the world who visit to collaborate on projects and use specialized scientific equipment.
Mote’s research is particularly important as coral reefs face rising ocean temperatures and other environmental pressures. During the severe coral bleaching event of 2023, some coral outplanted near Sand Key Lighthouse outside Key West recorded survival rates above 90%, Berard said.
The results demonstrate the importance of identifying coral species that can better withstand stressful conditions, she said.
“If we’re going to be doing the outplanting and trying to get numbers back out there, we don’t want to waste it,” Berard said. “We want every single piece of coral that gets outplanted out there to count and to be able to survive these stressors.”
In addition to its scientific work, Mote offers educational opportunities for children and families throughout the Lower Keys.
Berard said the laboratory conducts homeschool programs, after-school activities for fourth- and fifth-grade students at Gerald Adams Elementary School, and hands-on educational events. The organization also plans to hold additional open-lab activities for children, with another event tentatively anticipated in December.
Those interested in marine science careers can also explore internship opportunities at Mote facilities in the Keys and Sarasota. Berard recommended checking the organization’s website and its Protect Our Reefs social media channels for announcements about openings.
More information about research, public tours, educational programs and internships is available at mote.org.
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is an independent nonprofit institution focused on marine science, conservation and the sustainable use of ocean resources.