Over the past decade, many coral populations have struggled to survive due to factors that include a blight of diseases like stony coral tissue loss disease, coastal development, and rising ocean temperatures. But according to a new scientific analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Shedd Aquarium, coral communities in some areas off the coast of Fort Lauderdale are still going strong. While this should come as good news, the corals are in the path of the Port Everglades Navigation Improvements plan, a federal initiative that would expand the port’s shipping channels to allow newer, larger cargo ships and bulk carriers to pass through. Scientists and conservationists alike warn that if the project is approved, the corals could sustain significant damage from the heavy machinery that would be used to dredge the channel. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have stated that they will conduct further environmental studies before dredging begins.
The Center of Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit to protect horseshoe crabs, citing that populations have declined by more than 70% across their range in the past 25 years. These imposing arthropods are often referred to as “living fossils” as they have existed for nearly half a billion years. In addition to being a vital part of the food web, horseshoe crab blood is also used for drug safety testing, as it contains a compound that reacts to even small bacterial toxins. Along with habitat loss, the lawsuit asserts that horseshoe crab populations have suffered from overharvesting for medical research, and that the federal government hasn’t done enough to protect them. In 2024, the Center petitioned unsuccessfully for the federal EPA to have horseshoe crabs added to the Endangered Species Act.
Last month, Florida’s first black bear hunt since 2015 concluded with 52 bears killed within the three-week period. Up to 172 bear kills were permitted during the hunt. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)’s Paul Scharnine, Florida’s estimated population of 4,000 black bears “can sustain a hunt,” and FWC Executive Director Roger Young stressed that it was “rooted in sound scientific data.” However, many conservation groups and animal rights advocates disagree. Opponents entered the lottery for hunting permits to help keep bear kill numbers low, and the Florida-based nonprofit organization Bear Warriors United offered hunters a $2,000 incentive to forfeit their permits. Conservation groups have indicated that they will use similar strategies to oppose future bear hunts, and may consider legal action.
Orlando city officials have confirmed that avian influenza or “bird flu” is responsible for the death of 26 of Lake Eola’s famous resident swans. According to a University of Florida epidemiologist, wild migratory birds are likely responsible for spreading the highly contagious virus to the Lake Eola swan population. Recent bird deaths along Florida’s Space Coast have also raised the alarm, but testing has not yet been completed. Several other states are also experiencing outbreaks.
The Good News
This month, the Florida Aquarium successfully transferred 9,000 Florida friendly baby corals to Reef Renewal USA and The Reef Institute, who will eventually plant them in reefs along Florida’s East Coast. The accomplishment is a milestone in Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery (FCR3) Initiative, which aims to restore 25% of Florida’s coral reef by 2050.