APOLLO BEACH, Fla. — Accompanied by partners from across the state, The Florida Aquarium is slated to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday for its new coral center.
Providing 4,200 square feet of space, the Coral Conservation and Research Center will house and nurture coral species at the aquarium’s Apollo Beach campus, according to a news release. It will be an extension of its "commitment to advancing critical coral conservation efforts."
The building’s construction will support efforts like the Coral Conservation Program, which aims to reduce environmental damage to Florida’s coral reef.
According to reports in recent years, about 90% of coral in Florida's reefs near the Keys have been wiped out by the effects of record-high water temperatures.
“The facility and Aquarium biologists are dedicated to preserving, breeding and rearing corals facing the risk of extinction in the wild,” the aquarium said in a statement.
Restoration missions have been launched by NOAA and similar agencies to hedge further damage to Florida coral.
