Coral invades Gulf of Mexico's reefs

Non-native orange cup coral is colonizing oil and gas platforms near the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary located 110 miles of the Texas coast. The invasive coral could be a large threat to the Gulf of Mexico's only true coral reef.

The coral, native to the Pacific Ocean, was discovered in 1992 when a diver took a photograph of it. Now the platforms contain huge colonies of orange cup coral.

Texas Parks and Wildlife is considering moving the platforms out of the area to protect the Flower Gardens and Stetson Bank if necessary.

NOAA rated the Flower Gardens as one of the healthiest reefs in the U.S. territories as well as the Pacific despite the threatening coral and other pollutants.

Read