MIAMI The cruise capital of the globe, Miami, is full of people who don’t know what they are missing below the surface of a busy shipping channel. An underwater camera shows marine life trying to resist global warming, just below the keels of large ships.
The camera in Miami’s Government Cut is one of many ventures of a marine biologist, and a musician, who have been on a 15 year mission to raise awareness about coral reefs that are dying. They combine science and art to bring underwater life into popular culture.
Their company Coral Morphologic is creating stunning images and putting beautiful closeups underwater creatures on social media. They also set time-lapsed video of glowing coral to music and projected it onto buildings. They even sell a coral-themed line of beachwear.
We are not all artists. We are not all science. We don’t have to be all science. Colin Foord says that we are an Alchemy. He has blue hair so spiky, it seems like it is electrically charged. He and J.D., his business partner, were interviewed. McKay and his business partner J.D. sat down with The Associated Press for a show and tell.
Coral City Camera is one their most popular projects. It has over 2 million views recently and typically has around 100 viewers online at any time.
Foord stated that we will be able to record one year of coral growth. This is unprecedented in situ on a coral coral reef. It’s possible only because of our technological connection at the port of Miami.
Foord explained that the livestream already showed that staghorn and corals can adapt and thrive in urbanized undersea environments, as well as 177 species fish, dolphins, and other sea life.
These corals are very resilient. Foord stated that the primary purpose of getting it underwater was to demonstrate to people that there is so much marine life in our city.
McKay, on the other hand, sounds like a Broadway producer. He describes how he also films these creatures in their Miami lab, growing coral and getting them ready to be close-ups in stunning color.
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McKay explained, “We basically create a scene with one of these fish tanks, then there are actors coral or shrimp, then we film it and then I get vibes, whatever might happen in the scene, then I soundtrack it using some ambient sounds, something very Oceanic.”
Their latest production “Coral City Flourotour” will be shown on the New World Center Wallscape during the Aspen Institute’s major climate event in Miami Beach. Foord is a speaker on a panel that will discuss how the natural systems of the oceans can be used to help humans combat climate change. The talks title is The Ocean is a Superhero.
Foord stated to the AP, “I think that when we can recognize that there are many families of life and that everything is interconnected, then hopefully we can make meaningful change now so that future generations don’t have to live with wildfires, melted ice caps and dead oceans.”
Their mission is urgent. After 500 million years, these species are now under attack by climate change. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, coral bleaching and the risk of spreading infectious diseases can lead to mass coral die-offs. Stronger storms and changes to water chemistry can cause damage to reef structures. Alternated currents can sweep away food or larvae.
NOAA recently reported that climate change is the greatest global threat to coral-reef ecosystems.
This is the second part of Coral Morphologics’ name. What does it really mean to be morphologic, you ask? Foord explained that it means adapting to the changing environment.
The Government Cut corals, including elkhorn, brain, and staghorn, show how coral communities can adapt in a highly unusual environment like the port of Miami. Foord believes that the fluorescence of some corals could be protecting them against solar rays.
Foord said that the port is a valuable place for coral research. We must be realistic. It is unlikely that you can restore the ecosystems to their original state 200 years ago. We are left with more radical options.
The clothes are just as important as the science. Coral Morphologic sells swimwear and surfwear made from recycled fishing nets.
We see the potential of tech to connect people with nature. Foord said that we are fortunate as artists and that corals are benefitting.
By CURT ANDERSON, CODY JACKSON, Associated Press. Jackson reported from Miami, and Anderson from St. Petersburg in Florida.
