Scientists in Florida are turning to an unusual technique called “coral IVF” to help restore damaged coral reefs. They are using laboratory fertilisation to produce young corals that can eventually be returned to the ocean. The main aim of scientists and conversationists is to tackle the decline of Florida’s coral reefs, which support marine life, protect coastlines and contribute to the region’s tourism and fishing industries.
How ‘coral IVF’ works
Rather than depending on fragments taken from existing corals, researchers collected reproductive material, fertilising coral eggs and raised young corals under controlled conditions before transplanting them onto reefs. These are fertilized and grown into "baby corals" before being attached to existing reefs once they reach a specific size. The initiative gained attention during a major coral spawning effort in August 2026, when 12 organisations produced more than 1.5 million coral embryos. The reef system has faced significant decline for decades due to rising water temperatures, disease and pollution.
“What we have done over a few weeks would have never happened without human intervention,” said Celia Leto, Senior Biologist and Manager of the Coral Reproduction Laboratory at Mote Marine Laboratory. “The sheer number of gametes collected and larvae produced is a testament to the preparation, expertise, and collaboration of everyone involved. It was amazing to see all of the partners come together for this effort and make this remarkable achievement possible.”
Scientists join forces to produce coral embryos
Funded through a four-year NOAA grant spearheaded by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, the Re5 (Resilient Reef Research, Rescue and Restoration) initiative, dive teams collected millions of gametes from elkhorn and staghorn corals at offshore nurseries operated by Reef Renewal USA and Mote Marine Laboratory near Key Largo. The gametes were then rapidly transported to a temporary laboratory at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park through a partnership with Mote Marine Laboratory, where experts across organizations determined desirable genetic crosses in order to create fertilized embryos that would prove most resilient to environmental stressors. Concurrently, another team worked to cryopreserve additional sperm for future restoration purposes.
Why young corals need protection
Rachel Ionata, a research and development manager at the center, told CBS News the effort is driven by a desire to preserve the environment for future generations. "My parents and grandparents used to dive and talk about what it was like on the reef," said Ionata, whose team manages the corals through each stage of development. "We raise them for a year and a half. We feed them and do everything in stages".
Graduate student Aidan Healy, who works in the water several times a week, explained that the young corals require protection after being placed on the reef. "We'll grow them and take them to the caged areas so fish can't get to them," Healy said. "That's a problem with juvenile coral. Fish eat them".
Scientists hope to give Florida’s reefs a future
“Collaboration allows us to push the boundaries of what is possible in coral restoration,” said Keri O’Neil, Director and Senior Scientist of the Coral Conservation Program at The Florida Aquarium. “This effort brought together people from across the coral restoration community to seize a rare opportunity and turn it into something with tremendous potential for the future of Florida’s Coral Reef.”