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…

Association of Zoos and Aquariums launch the Coral Aquarist Program

The AZA’s Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project has developed the Coral Aquarist Program to meet the ever-increasing need for experienced and knowledgeable coral aquarists and conservation practitioners. The program seeks to build professional resources to manage the coral gene banks…

Cairns Aquarium becomes Coral Biobank’s permanent new home

Last time we spoke about the Great Barrier Reef Legacy Coral Biobank Project kicking off in Queensland, Australia, there was already an admirable number of coral species being held by some Biobank partners for security, despite a lack of existence…

Become a Paid Coral Restoration Intern with I.CARE

Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education are recruiting marine science undergraduates to work in the Florida Keys. The paid coral restoration internship will involve working locally in the Islamorada area, collaborating with local dive operations, teaching, caring for transplanted corals, conducting…

Jasmine Coral is a great soft coral for beginners

If you want a super easy soft coral for a low-maintenance tank, a nano, or a beginner tank, then look no further than the Jasmine Coral, Knopia octocontacanalis. The Jasmine is the only member of the genus Knopia and was…

Aperture partners with Florida Aquarium to help fund conservation projects

The parent company of BRS, Neptune, EcoTech, and AI has created a conservation initiative called Aperture Circle. The initiative is committed to the sustainability and conservation of marine and wildlife and will partner with research institutions, foundations, charities, and other…

Stony coral ID guide launched at CITES CoP 19

A guide named “Identification of CITES-listed live stony corals in the aquarium trade” has been formally launched at the CITES CoP 19 meeting in Panama. The guide is the product of a research project led by the Centre for Environment,…

Elegance coral bred for the first time in captivity

The Coral Spawning Lab has successfully spawned and raised the Elegance Coral, Catalaphyllia jardinei, for the first time in captivity. The corals spawned in October 2021 at the UK-based lab and approximately 100 juveniles have survived this far, to 11…

The Egg Catalog Project collects fish eggs from exhibits for aquaculture

A partnership of six public aquaria and Roger Williams University have been collecting eggs from saltwater fishes that have been spawning in public aquaria. The eggs are collected and photographed before being submitted for DNA barcoding to identify the species…

Why Do Urchins Like to ‘Wear’ Corals and Rubble as a Hat?

Owners of some short spined species of urchins such as tuxedos and pincushions may have noticed their spiky echinoderms occasionally sporting an assortment of rubble or coral. We often admired this remarkable phenomenon which looks quite interesting, but as we’ve…