The Coral Aquarist Program
The Coral Aquarist Program has been developed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project (AZA-FRTRP) to meet the ever-increasing need for experienced and knowledgeable coral aquarists and conservation practitioners. The program seeks to build this professional resource and uses the care of rescued Atlantic coral brood stock and management of coral gene banks created in response to stony coral tissue loss disease as a case study.
The Coral Aquarist Program provides participants with the knowledge and experiential introductory foundations necessary to manage coral brood stock in land-based nurseries, using rescued Florida corals that are part of the Florida Coral Rescue Program.
The course is composed of two phases:
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Phase 1 (online training phase) An online course of robust content provided by The Aquarium Vet ®.
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Phase 2 (onsite training phase) Participants will be assigned to one of our training facilities located throughout the United States (course duration 7 days; 5 full days of instruction + 2 days travel). On-site training will be a mentored, manual-based learning experience coupled with hands-on experiential learning activities.
The AZA-FRTRP envisions a national network of coral care facilities meeting the needs of coral restoration and conservation efforts: broodstock, propagation, settlement, rearing , and outplanting.
The Coral Aquarist Program is a recognized Association of Zoos and Aquarium Professional Development Course.
Coral Aquarist Course Schedule 2025-2026 (Coming Soon!)
Our 2026-2027
Coral Aquarist Program
Call for Applications is coming in early 2026.
(Check back here for details later this year.)
We are proud of our CAP graduates!
2024-2025
Alfredo Torruella - University of Puerto Rico
Joe Hillmann - Eastern Caribbean Coral Rescue Center, Dominica
Joe Unsworth - University of Miami
Kayla Eustace - SeaLife Orlando
Max Turnquest - Perry Institute of Marine Science, Bahamas
Nikolas Vieder - formerly I.CARE Corporation
Sarah Wells - Adventure Aquarium
Stefana Roberts - Perry Institute of Marine Science, Bahamas
2023-2024
Brooke Zurita - Moody Gardens and Aquarium
Chad Cogburn - Nashville Zoo
Colin Brocka - Blank Park Zoo
Gimel Morely - Perry Institute of Marine Science, Bahamas
Krista LaForest - Formerly Nova Southeastern University
Morgan Jewell - Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
Nick Sundin - SeaLIfe Charlotte
The Coral Aquarist Program proudly acknowledges the support and collaboration of
