Edisto2025

This cruise is an expedition sponsored by the Coral Propagation Techniques (CPT) project to support coral propagation and restoration activities as directed by the NRDA PDARP under the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities portfolio (MDBC). In 2021, colonies of mesophotic coral species Swiftia exserta were collected and transported to aquaria in Charleston, SC. These corals were grown out and are now ready to be outplanted back to their original locations in and around the Edisto Reef MPA. The Mohawk ROV (UNCW) will be used in addition to an over-the-side elevator to drop these corals to the seafloor. The ROV may also be used to collect other tissue samples in the area to support other studies (e.g. genetics, microbiology, trophodynamics).