Coral Protection and Restoration Program

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Coral Protection and Restoration Program was established in 2020 to support holistic management of Florida's Coral Reef. The program addresses major threats affecting the reef, including coral disease, pollution, water quality problems, rising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification. Its work includes providing leadership for coral reef initiatives in Florida, participating in the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, informing coral reef policy, and administering state funding directed toward Florida's Coral Reef priorities. Since 2017, the program has administered more than $90 million in funding, including the recurring $20 million Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvement Grant. These historical and recurring funding figures describe the program's broader funding administration activities and are not stated as the award pool or individual award amounts for a current Coral Protection and Restoration Program solicitation. Funding administered through the program supports coral reef management, research, protection and recovery objectives. The source identifies priority work such as water quality sampling, nutrient reduction, stony coral tissue loss disease research and intervention, coral rescue, coral propagation and restoration. Strategic priorities include funding administration, holistic management of Florida's Coral Reef, protection and restoration of the reef, and coordination and information sharing. The program also seeks to reduce chronic regional stressors from land-based pollution and supports planning, data management, coral husbandry capacity, infrastructure expansion and research intended to improve coral reproductive success, genetic diversity and resilience. No applicant cost-share or matching requirement, indirect cost limitation, subaward restriction or other specific spending limitation is provided on the supplied program page. The program leads implementation of the Florida's Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative, or FCR3 Initiative. The initiative seeks to develop the infrastructure, technology, skilled workforce and logistics necessary by 2050 to support the long-term recovery of no less than 25 percent of Florida's Coral Reef. Its approach includes evidence-based coral propagation and outplanting intended to restock the reef with hardy populations of native corals and other keystone species and strengthen natural reproduction, dispersal and recruitment. Strategic design and siting of restoration projects are also intended to enhance flood protection and strengthen Florida's coastal economy. State coral management priorities identified in connection with the initiative are coral reef resilience, ecosystem restoration and water quality. The supplied source states that program funding supports universities, agencies and non-governmental organizations in priority projects. This establishes support for institutional and nonprofit participants, but the page does not provide a complete applicant eligibility definition for a specific current solicitation. It does not state organizational status requirements, minimum experience requirements, fiscal sponsorship rules, or other applicant qualifications. The geographic focus is Florida and Florida's Coral Reef. The source additionally discusses restoration efforts and coastal economic benefits in southeast Florida, but it does not provide a definitive list of counties, municipalities or other sub-state applicant service areas for the general program. The source directs prospective applicants to visit the Protecting Florida Together Grants webpage annually between April and June for coral-related grant funding opportunities. It separately directs readers there for information about the FCR3 Grant Program and Water Quality Improvement Grant Program. No specific current application opening date, final deadline, pre-application deadline, letter of intent, application form, submission portal, required proposal questions, required uploads or formal evaluation criteria are provided in the supplied material. Because the stated funding-opportunity period recurs annually between April and June and the analysis date is August 25, 2026, the next anticipated funding opportunity period is April through June 2027. An exact 2027 opening or closing date cannot be established from the supplied source. The program's stated vision is for Florida's Coral Reef to be holistically protected and restored while ensuring resilient coral reef ecosystem functions and services. Its management approach emphasizes science-based decision making, coordination among local, state and federal partners, research, restoration practices, water quality improvement and communication with stakeholders. The supplied page does not state individual award amounts, the number of awards, a current total program funding amount for the next competition, award notification dates or a defined grant performance period. No individual grant program contact is named. The general Florida Department of Environmental Protection contact information supplied on the page is Public.Services@FloridaDEP.gov and 850-245-2118, with the department located at 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000.

Align proposed work with the stated priorities of coral reef resilience, ecosystem restoration and water quality; demonstrate clear relevance to science-based protection and recovery of Florida's Coral Reef; where applicable, connect work to restoration capacity, coral resilience, research, monitoring or reduction of land-based pollution.