"Record-breaking Ocean Temperatures in Florida Trigger Urgent Coral Conservation Efforts"

A mass coral bleaching event and die-off is occurring in the Florida Keys as ocean temperatures surge to unprecedented levels, with some areas reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Reefs are rapidly bleaching or dying, and experts predict complete mortality within a week. The extreme heat, combined with a lack of rain and wind, has pushed water temperatures to some of the highest ever recorded. Scientists are conducting an urgent rescue operation, removing genetically important coral species from the ocean and placing them in nurseries to protect them from the intense heat. The saved coral will be used to learn which species can survive warmer oceans and to rebuild Florida's reefs after the bleaching event.