Reef Keepers
Reef Keepers follows three scientists' journey of care and stubborn defiance as they refuse to let the Florida reef – and the communities that depend on it – slip away. Amid record-breaking heat waves, intensified hurricanes, and the weight of loss, they’re proving stewardship and grit can turn the tide.
The Florida Coral Reef is one of the most degraded reefs globally, battered by disease, climate change, and pollution. Today, more Florida corals live in land-based facilities and in artificial coastal nurseries than in their native waters. Scientists working to restore the reef must contend with biological and emotional challenges, as they continually witness the corals under their care perish. But one thing is clear: No one is giving up. Together, scientists and everyday Floridians are sheltering survivors, preserving unique coral lineages, developing heat- tolerant hybrids, and hand-planting young corals. Can these small acts of repair build into the groundswell the reef needs to persist for future generations?Co-Director, Producer | Alyson Larson
Co-Director, Writer | Natalie van Hoose
Director of Photography | Kris Spelce
Editor | Laura Landry