I.Care About Coral - Restoration

I.CARE is dedicated to restoring the reefs of Islamorada, including the world famous Alligator Reef. Our mission is to incorporate local businesses, residents and visitors in the restoration and maintenance of our coral reef communities in Islamorada. We have partnered with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and Mote Marine Laboratory to create the first community based approach to reef restoration in the middle Florida Keys. Our activities include coral transplanting, marine debris clean-ups and reef monitoring. With participation from Islamorada’s businesses and residents and divers across the country, we will restore our reefs for current and future generations.

I.CARE was founded in 2019 around the idea that the Islamorada community can act now to save their own coral reefs for the future! Our staff is proud to be a part of this community effort.

Kylie Smith, PhD – C0-Founder & Project Manager: Dr. Smith has been studying the factors influencing coral transplant survival and reef fish behavior in the Florida Keys since 2012. Specifically, she studied the impacts of consecutive bleaching events, Hurricane Irma and disease on coral transplants during her graduate work at Clemson University. Dr. Smith maintains partnerships with Mote Marine Lab, Keys Marine Lab, FWC, the Coral Restoration Foundation, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Clemson University, Jacksonville University, Florida International University and other organizations to maximize the survival of both coral and herbivore transplants to restore ecological health to these reefs.