NOAA Helps Nat’l Coral Reef Institute to Grow Coral in Laboratory to Restore Damaged Reefs

Scientists at the National Coral Reef Institute are currently growing more than 400 corals from the larval stage as part of NOAA-funded research, and will transplant them to restore damaged coral reefs. "NOAA strongly supports research that will help managers develop new tools to address coral restoration," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "In this Year of the Reef, such innovative approaches may provide a new way forward to protecting these valuable resources."