Mote joins forces with students and veterans in Coral Reef Restoration Initiative

Mote Marine Laboratory, Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge, and SCUBAnauts International Continue Vital Partnership for Coral Reef Restoration and Research © Mote Marine Laboratory

Mote Marine Laboratory recently continued its ongoing partnership with Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge (CWVC) and SCUBAnauts International (SNI) to advance coral reef restoration and research in the Florida Keys. The groups focused their efforts on maintaining and expanding coral nurseries established by Mote, as well as setting up an experiment at the organization's Looe Key nursery to support the long-term success of its outplanted corals.

This long-standing annual collaboration brings together two mission-driven organizations, one composed of military veterans and one of science-focused students, each committed to saving coral reefs.

CWVC is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of wounded and injured veterans through rehabilitative, high-adventure, and therapeutic outdoor challenges. Their mission promotes personal growth, camaraderie, and healing, while also contributing to ongoing scientific research on the impacts of traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, and limb loss. Each dive offers participants not only a renewed sense of purpose but also the chance to aid in the restoration of the ocean.

SNI is an organization focused on educating and empowering the next generation of ocean stewards through real-world marine science experiences. By engaging teens in meaningful conservation and stewardship projects, SNI cultivates environmental leadership and deep respect for marine ecosystems.

CWVC and SNI worked alongside Mote scientists to install new coral trees and clean existing ones in Mote's Looe Key offshore coral nursery. A critical part of the cleaning process involves removing algae and obstructive, "fouling" bivalves from the trees, which is essential to reduce competition with coral fragments. These combined efforts play a foundational role in sustaining Mote's science-based coral reef restoration and research pipeline.

Throughout the initiative, Mote, CWVC and SNI divers worked closely together. The mentorship between Mote, CWVC and SNI divers has become a defining part of this event, fostering a meaningful exchange of knowledge, skills, and perspective. Now in its 14th year, this collaboration continues to elevate Mote's science-based restoration and education efforts, while building a lasting community of ocean stewards. The initiative serves as a reminder of what's possible when diverse teams unite in pursuit of coral reef restoration.

"To meet the challenges facing coral reefs, restoration must be scalable, adaptive, and grounded in rigorous science," said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President & CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory. "By engaging both veterans and youth in this work, we are strengthening restoration capacity today while cultivating the next generation of ocean science leaders."

As Mote continues to monitor and manage coral nurseries, partnerships like these remain critical to ensuring the resilience of Florida's Coral Reefs for years to come.