Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for international collaboration on heat-resilient coral research and restoration with three science-focused entities based in Taiwan and the U.S.: Delta Environmental and Educational Foundation, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA),\u00a0and\u00a0the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology\u00a0(NMMST).<\/p>\n
The MOU establishes the first such international partnership between Taiwan and a major U.S. marine research and science education institution, and aims to address one of many stressors affecting coral reefs across the globe \u2013 rising ocean temperature, as coral reefs worldwide are experiencing the detrimental effects similar to what Florida\u2019s Coral Reefs experienced this past summer.<\/p>\n
Delta, a global provider of power and thermal management solutions, focuses on addressing key environmental issues with innovative technology. As part of its mission, Delta has developed a coral restoration project, in collaboration with the NMMBA and NMMST, which aims to restore ten thousand corals over three years through continued efforts in propagation and breeding. The MOU establishes Mote as a key science partner in this coral restoration project, as it has led science-based restoration methods for over 30 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re pleased to partner and collaborate with researchers in Taiwan, and all around the world, as part of Mote\u2019s international marine science diplomacy initiative, that develop and deploy innovative science and technology to help solve the many challenges our oceans face,\u201d said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote President & CEO. \u201cOur shared oceans know no political boundaries and by exchanging knowledge and learning from each other, we will, together, enhance science-based coral resilience and restoration approaches despite the threats that we’re seeing today, and what we can expect to see in the future. While this is a landmark new international partnership, I am especially pleased that we\u2019ll also be co-training skilled community volunteers to directly engage in science-based coral restoration, and will be establishing joint international high school programs to provide experiential learning opportunities for the next generation. All of these partnership research, education and public outreach activities will be highlighted in our new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA).\u201d<\/p>\n
Global, regional, and local stressors have significantly contributed to the decline of our coral reef ecosystems. Living coral cover (the proportion of the reef covered in living coral) on Florida\u2019s Coral Reef is currently between just 1 and 5 percent, dramatically less than just 40 years ago when it was more than 30%. Many factors make a natural recovery of Florida\u2019s Coral Reef unlikely and nearly impossible on a timescale relevant to humans. The recovery of function on Florida\u2019s Coral Reef is likely now entirely dependent upon adaptive management and pro-active science-based restoration.<\/p>\n
After Florida\u2019s Coral Reef experienced record-breaking heat waves starting in July 2023, with temperatures in adjacent backreef areas reaching temperatures above 100\u00b0F, Mote witnessed its sexually produced resilient genotypes, despite the intense stress event, survived, thrived, and some never even bleached. Mote is focusing its efforts on carrying out more surveys of reefs to get a clearer picture of which corals survived and why, and adjust its efforts accordingly, while continuing to focus its efforts on expanding upon its comprehensive asexual and sexual reproduction methods for producing genetically resilient coral, and sharing its findings with partners in Taiwan and around the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Delta Foundation sent representatives to Mote last year to observe their coral bleaching rescue mechanism,\u201d said Ms.\u00a0Shan-Shan Guo, Executive Director of the Delta Environmental and Educational Foundation. \u201cWe are honored to officially collaborate with Mote this year and will provide funding to support researchers at the NMMBA and the NMMST. Additionally, we will send volunteers from Delta’s coral restoration project to\u00a0the United States\u00a0for exchange and learning. We hope that by enhancing coral bleaching early warning and rescue mechanisms, we can better prepare for the next coral bleaching event in\u00a0Taiwan.”<\/p>\n
Delta has leveraged its own automation technology, equipment, and corporate volunteers to contribute to heat-resilient coral research and conservation efforts. Building upon the coral restoration project\u2019s success, Mote will learn more about these technologies, and how the intuition can incorporate it into its methods.<\/p>\n
This MOU, signed by Mote President & CEO Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Ms.\u00a0Shan-Shan Guo, Executive Director of the Delta Environmental and Educational Foundation, Te-hao Chen, Vice Director of the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium and Su-fen Chen Diretor-general of the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, sets the framework for future collaboration between the organizations.<\/p>\n
The MOU seeks to:<\/strong><\/p>\n Establish an international research and public education platform focused on heat-resilient corals This collaboration with Taiwan expands Mote\u2019s International Marine Science Diplomacy Initiative, as Mote also continues to grow its US Harmful Algal Bloom Control Technologies Incubator with Japan, Chile and Korea; it\u2019s Global FinPrint project, the world\u2019s largest shark survey in 58 nations that has resulted in new international trade regulations for these species; it\u2019s coral reef research in Mozambique; as well as it\u2019s sharks and rays conservation work in Belize.<\/p>\n \u201cMote\u2019s collaborative research is as diverse as the ecosystems in which we are working. The diversity of perspective and experience has allowed us to transfer knowledge across oceans and implement processes that will benefit species near and far,\u201d said Dr. Crosby. \u00a0\u201cThe information shared between global institutions are vital in making a difference for the future of our marine environment. We\u2019re pleased to enter into this MOU with Taiwan as an exciting new extension of our International Marine Science Diplomacy Initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n About Mote:<\/strong>\u00a0Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is an independent, nonprofit, 501(c)3 research institution founded in 1955. Mote began and flourished through the passion of a single researcher, Dr. Eugenie Clark, her partnership with the community and philanthropic support, first of the Vanderbilt family and later of the William R. Mote family.<\/p>\n Today, Mote is based in Sarasota, Florida, with five campuses stretching from Sarasota to the Florida Keys. Mote has more than 20 world-class research programs studying oceans locally to internationally, with an emphasis on conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Mote\u2019s vision includes positively impacting public policy through science-based outreach and education. Showcasing the Lab’s research is Mote Aquarium, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 365 days a year. Learn more at\u00a0mote.org.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Contact Us:<\/strong> Copyright\u00a92018 Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for international collaboration on heat-resilient coral research and restoration with three science-focused entities based in Taiwan and the U.S.: …<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3840,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,1,19],"tags":[76,50,676,601,674,678,46,677,675],"class_list":["post-3839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","category-mote-news","category-research","tag-conservation","tag-coral","tag-delta","tag-heat","tag-mou","tag-partnership","tag-research","tag-resistance","tag-taiwan"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nOrganize international training workshops
\nConduct follow-up investigation for the corals in the seas around Florida and regularly share the results
\nProvide cross-training on observing and learning about coral early warning systems, coral bleaching restoration and rescue mechanisms, and the genetic cultivation of heat-resilient corals.
\nDevelop science-based coral restoration training protocol for volunteers, and international training hubs in Taiwan and Florida.
\nDevelop and implement joint high school experiential learning opportunities and STEM workforce training for high school and undergraduate students with an emphasis on coral genetics, ecology and restoration.<\/p>\n
\nMote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Fla., 34236. 941.388.4441<\/p>\n