Great Lakes underwrites coral preservation efforts

OAK BROOK - Great Lakes Dredge & Dock announced a two-year gift to The Florida Aquarium's to underwrite the group's coral conservation and restoration work.

Since 2014, The Florida Aquarium has worked to protect and restore Florida's threatened coral population. Five years into the program, the aquarium's coral experts led the largest outplanting of genetically diverse Caribbean staghorn coral in Florida's history.

Last August, The Florida Aquarium became the first to spawn endangered Atlantic pillar coral through lab-induced techniques. These historic events could ultimately help save corals in the Florida Reef Tract from extinction.

"The level of R & D we are engaged in to save the Florida Reef Tract has significant financial impact to our organization," said Roger Germann, president and CEO of The Florida Aquarium. "The benefit from GLDD's investment in our research means we can do more to save corals from extinction,"

Great Lakes CEO Lasse Petterson noted the company has a commitment to "ensuring that our nation's shorelines are protected and potential risks associated with storms and sea change are mitigated."

"Great Lakes regards the protection of the environment as a core value, and we conduct all work activities so that adverse effects on the environment are avoided or minimized," he added.