TAMPA, Fla — In what is being seen as a large achievement for reef restoration, The Florida Aquarium (TFA) says researchers have successfully released around 200 long-spined sea urchins off the state's coast.
Coral reefs are dying at alarming rates across the globe. That's why the aquarium says it's taken the role of researching and breeding dozens of coral species found in Florida's coral reefs, from the Dry Tortugas to north of Palm Beach.
Sea urchins, researchers say, play a vital part in that process.
“With their long black spines, these urchins are instantly recognizable as one of the most striking creatures in the Atlantic Ocean,” Alex Petrosino, Biologist I at The Florida Aquarium, said. “What is less commonly known is these urchins provide a vital service, living out their lives, eagerly scouring over the reef surface and feeding on the fleshy algae that is fueled by pollution and can suffocate healthy coral reefs.”
Urchins act as grazers that eat the fleshy algae suffocating many reefs. In order to start that process, TFA says it collaborated with the University of Florida and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWC) to collect adult urchins from the Florida Keys. From there, the urchins were taken to the aquarium's conservation center in Apollo Beach in order to begin breeding.
“We are in a race to help the world’s coral reefs, and this release of critically important algae grazers is a huge step forward,” said Keri O'Neil, MS, The Florida Aquarium’s Manager & Senior Scientist, Coral Conservation Program.
TFA says the project is considered the largest restocking effort in the last 20 years.