Things to do nearMote's International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration

Mote Marine Laboratory established its coral restoration center on Summerland Key to place cutting-edge science directly adjacent to the reefs it aims to save. The Florida Reef Tract, stretching along the state's Atlantic coast, has lost a significant portion of its living coral cover to warming waters, disease, and human impact. This facility was built to respond to that crisis at scale, using land-based coral propagation systems that can produce tens of thousands of coral fragments each year.

The center's researchers focus on selective breeding and disease-resistance trials, identifying coral genotypes that survive thermal stress better than wild populations. Fragments are grown in flow-through seawater tanks before being transplanted onto degraded reef sections offshore. The nearby waters around Looe Key represent some of the most ecologically important reef habitat in the lower Keys and serve as a key restoration target for outplanting efforts.

Visitors with an interest in marine science will find the facility a compelling destination. Guided access varies by season, so confirming availability in advance is worthwhile. The surrounding area of the Florida Keys offers ample opportunity to combine a facility visit with snorkeling or diving. For those drawn to where ocean conservation and field science intersect, this center stands as one of the most consequential facilities of its kind in North America.