ATLANTA (October 9, 2025) –

What That Means for Corals and How Georgia Aquarium Is Helping

When the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air, seawater becomes slightly more acidic. Increasing amounts of CO₂ means more acidic water. That shift matters for corals and other shell-building animals that need calcium carbonate to grow and heal. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research reported in their latest annual assessment that global ocean acidity has crossed a critical threshold for marine life—putting extra pressure on reefs that are already challenged by warmer waters, increasing exposure to disease and more intense storms.

“This matters because coral reefs are nurseries for fish, buffers for coasts, and a foundation for local economies,” said Kim Stone, director of fishes and invertebrates at Georgia Aquarium. “As acidity rises, corals spend more energy maintaining their skeletons and less on growth and reproduction. Over time, that weakens reefs and everything that depends on them, from reef fish to the people who rely on healthy oceans.”

Georgia Aquarium’s leadership response to the coral crisis

• Long-term commitment: Georgia Aquarium has been actively involved in coral restoration and conservation since 2010, recognizing coral’s crucial role in healthy marine ecosystems.
• Research and rescue that inform action: Our teams conduct coral rescue and study health and resilience in corals so partners can implement effective conservation strategies. We’ve guided and developed coral care techniques behind the scenes and supported nursery strategies on the reef. We also help care for corals confiscated from illegal trade, working with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when animals need immediate critical care. Georgia Aquarium has received over 1,000 confiscated aquatic animals, more than half of them corals.
• Training more experts: We are teaching how to care for coral to expand the number of experts and partners involved in coral rescue and care worldwide. Georgia Aquarium hosts aquarists on-site for coral program training annually. It is a practical way to grow the network of people who can care for, rescue and restore threatened corals so more places have the expertise they need.
• Partnerships and field impact: Georgia Aquarium is a leading participant in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project, a multi-institution effort responding to the lethal, fast-spreading stony coral tissue loss disease in the Caribbean and Atlantic, including off Florida. This work is tracked on a dynamic dashboard following over 2,300 rescue colonies, including where the animals live, how big they are and DNA typing. We also partnered with Coral Restoration Foundation to grow coral fragments in underwater nurseries, with the goal of outplanting healthy corals back to the reef. To move nursery corals safely, Georgia Aquarium introduced the “Coral Bus”, a specialized aquarium trailer system that reduces stress and supports survival during transport.
• Inspiring care through connection: In our Tropical Diver gallery, guests see living corals up close. Turning big-picture climate science into a personal experience is one of the most powerful ways to spark action. Our aquarists also propagate corals for our live reef wall, which supports education and conservation goals inside the Aquarium.

“Coral reefs are living infrastructure for the ocean, and more acidity makes it harder for them to build and heal,” Stone shared. “We are investing in people, partnerships and science to help reefs hold on and bounce back.”

What you can do today

• Lower your carbon footprint where you can. Small choices add up. A few small actions include walking and biking instead of driving when possible, eating locally-sourced foods and reducing food waste. When swimming in the ocean, use reef-safe sunblock.
• Choose sustainable seafood using trusted guides and certifications. Georgia Aquarium’s Seafood Savvy program promotes choosing sustainable seafood from sources that minimize environmental impacts, ensure fair working conditions, and support the entire supply chain.
• Support coral programs through donations or membership.
• Learn and share. Visit Georgia Aquarium, explore our coral resources and talk about why reefs matter.

Hope looks like skilled hands, good science, and strong partnerships. From behind the scenes to reef nurseries, Georgia Aquarium and our partners are working to protect corals when it matters most.

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