Coral Reef Restoration
Species of Coral We Restore
Scientific Name: Acropora cervivornis
Scientific Name: Acropora palmata
Our Focus
We are focused on the restoration of two species of hard coral: Elkhorn and staghorn. These corals were chosen because the advent of the white band disease in the late 1080s to early 1990s resulted in the vast majority of their populations being destroyed. By restoring elkhorn and staghorn colonies we are restoring two species of coral that are native to Caribbean waters, proliferate, offer protection from storm surges and hurricanes as well as provide homes for marine biodiversity. To promote climate resilience genotypes of these corals, we locate surviving colonies, harvest, propagate and replant them onto damaged reefs in and around our concentration areas.
Coral Fragmentation
Similar to plant propagation, coral fragmentation is a method of growing fragments of corals in a nursery under quasi-controlled conditions. Once fragments have grown to 6-9 inches, smaller fragments are then removed for outplanting back into the wild. The process and approach differ from organisation to organisation as some programs may employ methods that are more scientific in nature while others opt for simpler, more cost-effective approaches. Regardless of the method, the objective of coral restoration is to repopulate dying reef ecosystems by propagating/preserving the genotype of those corals that are more resilient and adaptable to disease, climate change and other threats.
Making it Ours
Where We Work
Reef Life Inc. is a community-founded coral reef restoration project based in Mayreau. Mayreau is the smallest inhabited island in the Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Reef Life is actively engaged in restoration work in the Tobago Cays Marine Park.
Our Process
First, we build the nurseries by constructing steel tables and spiders. These structures are then placed in pre-identified areas whose conditions are most suitable for promoting healthy coral growth. Then, by cutting small pieces we harvest coral fragments from healthy colonies found in the wild. The rule of thumb is to harvest no more than 10% from any one colony. Elkhorns are placed on limestone “cookies” in the nursery, while staghorns are housed on steel frames called spiders. The fragments are then allowed to grow for about nine months before they are ready for the out-planting process. During those nine months, they are required to be checked regularly and housing structures cleaned to remove algae that pose life-threatening consequences if allowed to grow unchecked. The planting process requires the cutting of smaller fragments of coral from those housed in the nursery. These fragments are then planted on damaged and or dead reefs to revive them. Monitoring and evaluation are conducted weekly and records are kept about the harvesting location for each genotype of coral in the nurseries.
Partnerships and Community Ownership
Key to our approach is building partnerships and community ownership for sustainability. We believe that this work is better done under the ethos of collaboration and co-creation. We seek to involve our local community of fishers, farmers, advocates, activists, the private sector and other national, regional and international entities. the scale of the work to be done cannot be accomplished alone. To date we have worked with CLEAR Caribbean Ltd, Tobago Cays Marine Park, Sustainable Grenadines Inc, TradeWinds Ltd, Richmond Vale Academy, Inter-American Foundation, and Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, to deliver on our objectives.