Mote Marine Laboratory is proud to announce that more than $365,000 has been awarded through this year’s Protect Our Reefs (POR) License Plate Grant Program. Proceeds from the sale of Florida’s “Protect Our Reefs” specialty license plates are managed by Mote to support innovative research, restoration, education, and outreach projects that directly benefit Florida’s Coral Reef.
Over the past 20+ years, Mote’s POR Grant Program has awarded more than $8 million to support over 350 coral-focused projects conducted by dozens of Florida-based organizations. This long-standing program has helped Mote partner with more than 100 institutions around the globe, accelerating science-based efforts to understand, preserve and restore Florida’s Coral Reef.
“We are profoundly grateful to every Florida driver who chooses to support Mote’s coral reef research and restoration efforts by purchasing a Protect Our Reefs license plate,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President & CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory. “Together, we are making a tangible difference in restoring and conserving our state’s unparalleled marine beauty by safeguarding the health of our rainforests of the sea for generations to come.”
Stretching more than 350 miles along the Florida coast, Florida’s Coral Reef is the only barrier reef system in the continental U.S. and provides essential protection from storm surge while supporting more than 6,000 species of marine life. Economically, it contributes $8.5 billion in asset value, $4.4 billion in local sales, $2 billion in income, and supports 70,400 jobs in full- and part-time employment, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Despite its ecological and economic value, Florida’s Coral Reef continues to face serious threats. Over the last four decades, coral cover has declined dramatically due to a combination of stressors, including ocean warming, acidification, and coral disease.
The 2026–27 Protect Our Reefs Grant recipients represent a diverse group of institutions and organizations united by a shared commitment to reversing the decline of Florida’s Coral Reef through cutting-edge science, restoration, education, and outreach. A portion of funding also supports Mote Marine Laboratory’s Florida Keys infrastructure that can be used by visiting scientists, such as water chemistry and coral reproduction labs, as well as tanks for manipulating water pH and temperature.
External awardees include Eckerd College, SCUBAnauts International, and
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Several projects are collaborative efforts between Mote and these partners, underscoring the strength of Florida’s reef restoration network.
Funded projects span a wide range of high-impact topics, including enhancing coral resilience, examining if the body size and environmental conditioning influence Caribbean King Crab thermal physiology and grazing activity, boosting coral recruit survival by seeding with recently isolated algal symbiont cultures, as well as the impact of Ciliates on coral propagation in nurseries. Together, these efforts reflect the comprehensive, science-driven approach needed to protect and restore the only barrier reef system in the continental United States.
“By standing united in our commitment to coral reef conservation, we can combat the multifaceted threats that have plagued these vital ecosystems for decades,” said Kevin Claridge, Vice President for Sponsored Research & Coastal Policy Programs at Mote. “Each purchase of a Protect Our Reefs license plate directly fuels our mission to understand and reverse the decline of coral populations, ensuring a brighter future for Florida’s underwater ecosystems.”
Get Your Tag — and Protect Our Reefs!
Florida residents can help protect and restore coral reefs by purchasing the Protect Our Reefs specialty license plate for their car, truck, or trailer. For every plate sold, Mote receives a direct $25 donation that goes straight into reef research and restoration efforts.
More plates = more restoration.
You can purchase the plate online at: mote.org/reef-plate
About the Protect Our Reefs Specialty License Plate Grants Program
There is significant concern for the health of Florida’s Coral Reef, particularly in the face of recent natural disasters, disease, ocean acidification, and changes in water temperatures. The scientific community considers coral reefs around the world to be threatened and those of Florida to be at great risk. In addition to their environmental and biological importance, Florida’s reefs also contribute considerably to the State’s economy.
Mote Marine Laboratory has been successfully leading the “Protect Our Reefs” (POR) specialty license plate for over 20 years to help supplement traditional coral reef research and restoration funding sources. Mote makes a substantial proportion of the proceeds from the sale of these plates available through POR grants to build partnerships that support research, education (and outreach), and conservation efforts focused on the restoration and sustainable use of Florida’s coral reefs. Over the past 20+ years of the POR Grant Program, Mote has received and reviewed over 500 proposals and grants have been awarded to more than 300 projects totaling over $7.5 million.
The Grants Program uses the dollars raised from plate sales for:
- Scientific research to uncover the reasons for coral declines
- The development of new methods to restore coral reefs
- Education and outreach programs to help the public understand the threats that reefs face and how they can help
Organizations may apply for grant funds to support their Florida-based coral research. For more information visit mote.org/reef-plate.