Reef Monitoring and Restoration in Palm Beach County

Scientists from Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management (PBC ERM) reviewed data from past reef surveys and overlaid the results with species connectivity data
to identify and map potential outplant sites for three stony coral species (Colpophyllia natans, Montrastraea cavernosa, and Diploria labyrinthiformis). The team then surveyed eleven potential sites and ranked each one by order of priority based on site conditions coupled with their potential to serve as a source site or a reef where coral larvae originate and disperse from. Three sites were selected as high-priority outplanting sites, six were selected as medium-priority, and two were labeled low-priority.

PBC ERM scientists then partnered with The Reef Institute to train a team of divers and outplant stony corals to two sites using two-part epoxy. In January, the team outplanted 31 C. natans and 16 D. labyrinthformis corals to a 50 ft. site offshore of Lake Worth Beach. At this site, divers observed 89.6% survivorship both 13 days and 36 days after outplanting. In May, the team outplanted 9 C. natans and 24 M. cavernosa corals to a second 50 ft. site also in the Lake Worth Beach area. Here, divers observed 96.9% survivorship one week after outplanting with two C. natans corals showing signs of heavy predation and five M. cavernosa corals slightly paling. In addition to the restoration efforts mentioned above, PBC ERM worked with local dive shops to identify natural reef sites in need of a cleanup. Divers completed 30 to 60-minute cleanups at eight reef sites. On each dive, stretches of monofilament, rope, or braided fishing line were delicately removed without causing further damage to the reef. These findings, along with the anchor damage observed across six of the potential restoration sites further demonstrate the effects that human stakeholders can have on the reef and highlight the need for more effective protections.