With the Coronation of King Charles III being held in May, Chris Meckley of ACI Aquaculture was in a regal mood when it came to naming his latest batch of homegrown corals. Called the Royal Collection, Chris’ Fimbriaphyllia paraancora family…
Red Decorator Crab is a Natural Born COTS Killer
Scientists at the University of Queensland have identified the Red Decorator Crab, Schizophrys aspera, as the most consistent predator of Crown of Thorns Starfish, consuming them in 89% of trials. Crown of Thorns Starfish (COTS,) are one of the largest…
Urchins Relocated in Florida to Aid Coral Conservation
Marine scientists from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences have been collecting and relocating sea urchins in an effort to aid coral reef restoration. Sea urchins help prevent invasive algae from overgrowing struggling coral reefs so…
Reef Therapy is back!
We are excited to announce that the Reef Therapy podcast is back, and Mark van der Wal is back too. Episode #61 begins a new future for the Reef Builders Podcast as new host Remy joins Mark, and new Reef…
Scientists Find Potential Probiotic Treatment for SCTLD
Researchers at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have discovered a probiotic treatment for stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD). We’ve reported on the disease many times since its discovery in 2014 in Florida, including most recently that it…
Hermit Crab Anemone Named Remarkable New Marine Species by WoRMS
A new species of symbiotic sea anemone has been selected as one of the ten remarkable new marine species described in 2022 by the World Register of Marine Species. Named Stylobates calcifer, the deep sea anemone attaches to the shells…
Terelabrus toretore is a New Species of Striped Hogfish from Tahiti
A new species of deepwater hogfish has been described in the journal Zoological Studies. Terelabrus toretore is now the fifth species within the genus Terelabrus, and was discovered in the mesophotic zone in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Mesophotic zones range from…
Saudi Arabian Island to Become World’s Largest Coral Garden
A $500 billion development in Saudi Arabia has announced an island destination and with it, the world’s largest coral garden. Called NEOM, plans for the futuristic Red Sea City include a marina, villas, a beach club, an underwater museum, and…
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Spreads to Curacao
The Carmarbi Marine Research Station has reported that Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease has reached the southern Caribbean island of Curacao. Dubbed the deadliest and most devastating coral disease ever recorded, SCTLD first appeared off the Southeast Coast of Florida…
ACI Aquaculture’s Echinophyllia is Absolutely On Fire
The second we saw this Chalice Coral we knew we had to feature it, and when we spoke to industry legend Chris Meckley, owner at ACI, he agreed that it’s a coral that needs further celebration. An Indonesian Echinophyllia, probably…