Coral Restoration Foundation™

The tentacles of corals are nature’s intricate tools, armed with stinging cells known as nematocysts. These fascinating features belong to organisms in the phylum Cnidaria, a group that includes corals, anemones, and jellyfish. Among them is Montastraea cavernosa, or great star coral, which showcases the radial symmetry and unique adaptations that make these marine species so extraordinary. 🪸 Photo: Coral Restoration Foundation™ #MarineConservation #OceanResearch #CoralScience

#FieldUpdateFriday This week we conducted a 3-month post-outplanting monitoring of 414 non-Acro coral species, and the results are hope inspiring. These corals are thriving with minimal loss and we have observed fusion in the Orbicella species which is particularly promising. Photos: Coral Restoration Foundation™ #CoralRestoration #Sustainability #MarineConservation

We’re excited to announce our collaboration with Dr. Andrea Grottoli from The Ohio State University & Ohio State Research, Innovation and Knowledge to test UZELA, the Underwater Zooplankton Enhancement Light Array. UZELA aims to enhance zooplankton availability for corals, boosting their health and resilience against heat stress. If successful, it could significantly improve coral nursery operations, reducing costs and accelerating restoration timelines. Curious to learn more? Dive into our blog for the full story on this groundbreaking collaboration! LINK HERE: https://bit.ly/3XtzR0B #MarineScience #CoralRestoration #InnovativeConservation #ClimateChangeSolutions #OceanHealth

Collaborating for the Future of Pillar Coral Restoration Pillar coral, a stony coral species that was once abundant across Florida and the Caribbean, now teeters on the brink of functional extinction. In August, Coral Restoration Foundation™ joined forces with a group of dedicated researchers and practitioners in St. Thomas for a critical learning exchange workshop focused on pillar coral spawning. The USVI pillar coral learning exchange workshop was funded by NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), coordinated with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF), and hosted by the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI) labs. Our USVI Reef Restoration Coordinator, Bailey Thomasson, worked alongside experts from NOAA, and other leading organizations to monitor spawning activity and explore ways to enhance the chances of successful fertilization. Although this year’s spawning window yielded limited results, these insights are invaluable as we continue to adapt our restoration strategies in the face of climate change. This project underscores the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in protecting our world’s most vulnerable coral species. Thank you to all the participants: NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI) University of the Virgin Islands The Nature Conservancy Sociedad Ambiente Marino Inc Institute for Socio-Ecological Research National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Sea Ventures Marine Response Unit UVI Reef Response Learn more about the pillar coral workshop on our blog: https://bit.ly/3z74qjg Photos: Bailey Thomasson for Coral Restoration Foundation™ #CoralRestoration #Sustainability #PillarCoral #MarineConservation #OceanScience

Time for #MeetTheTeamMonday! Roxane Boonstra
 LEARNING ECOSYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR From Coral Nurseries to Dive Training Excellence After earning her Master's degree from the University of Miami's marine program, Roxane ventured to the Cayman Islands, where she spent six years immersed in the SCUBA diving industry. With over 2,000 dives under her belt as an underwater videographer, SCUBA instructor, and divemaster, Roxane found her true home beneath the waves. During her time on the Sister Islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, she not only hunted invasive lionfish and educated tourists on marine science but also co-founded a Coral Nursery on Cayman Brac, ensuring her love for coral conservation stayed strong. Diving into Reef Conservation with CRF™ At Coral Restoration Foundation™, Roxane is excited to manage the upcoming Learning Ecosystems Program, where she continues to share her deep passion for reef conservation by helping to make knowledge accessible. Her diverse background in the SCUBA industry and her commitment to marine science make her an invaluable part of our team. Roxane’s expertise and enthusiasm are helping to shape the future of coral restoration through innovative education. Cultivating Life Above and Below Water When she’s not diving, Roxane’s green thumb comes into play. A dedicated hydroponic gardener, she once managed a system in the Cayman Islands that grew over 160 plants, including eggplant, cucumber, zucchini, and tomatoes. Her love for nurturing life extends from the ocean depths to her own backyard, where she continues to grow veggies with the same care she gives to coral reefs. Photos: Coral Restoration Foundation™ #CoralRestoration #MarineConservation #Diving #MarineBiology #ReefResilience #Scuba #CoralReef #CoralGrowth #GenerationRestoration #Photomosaic #Science #Environment #Impact #ProtectWhatYouLove #DoWhatYouLove #ReefBuilders #SaveTheReef #Reef #OceanStewards #MarineScience #Coral #Passion #OceanRescue #Rescue #ChooseYourChange #ReefRestoration #CoralReefs #ClimateChange #Conservation

The 2024 coral spawning season comes to a close, and we are filled with gratitude—for the dedication of our team, the strength of our collaborations, and the promise of a resilient future for our reefs. This #CoralCloseUp captures a staghorn coral spawning, a symbol of hope and regeneration in our ongoing work to restore our oceans. Photos: Gabe Jensen for Coral Restoration Foundation™ #CoralRestoration #ReefResilience #SustainableFuture #MarineConservation

Our Tavernier Nursery—the world’s largest open ocean coral nursery and our in-situ living lab, has been a cornerstone for coral biology, ecology, and reef restoration research for over a decade. Since 2017, our unique "spawning alley" and extensive coral genotypes have made CRF™ a leader in coral sexual reproduction research. This year’s successful spawn, particularly from corals that survived the recent global bleaching event, enabled our SEZARC collaborators to collect and cryopreserve gametes. Video: Karley Feather for Coral Restoration Foundation™ #CoralRestoration #Sustainability #MarineConservation #ReefResilience #OceanScience

At Coral Restoration Foundation™, we’re witnessing the resilience of our coral populations firsthand as they spawn in the world’s largest nonprofit open ocean nursery. This annual event is a vital opportunity to foster new genetic diversity, crucial for the long-term health of our reefs. The commitment and dedication of our team during multiple night dives have been instrumental in collecting coral gametes for cryopreservation, ensuring they can play a key role in future restoration efforts. This year, these gametes could carry the unique resilience of corals that survived one of the most severe disturbance events on record. The 4 genotypes that we were able to collect gametes from were genotypes that we had never gathered previously. Photos: Karley Feather for Coral Restoration Foundation™ #CoralRestoration #TeamWork #MarineConservation #Resilience #ReefRestoration

Thank you so much to Sam Bentley for featuring our work! It was an honor to collaborate with you!

Spawning Season 2024 Snapshot: * 5 Nights of Diving (Aug 21-25) * 30 Collection Nets Deployed each night * 4 Colonies Observed Spawning on Aug 22nd * 1 Viable Collection for Cryopreservation * 21 CRF Team Members involved throughout the week This year, spawning was modest—a trend we're seeing across South Florida as corals continue to recover from last summer's bleaching events. Despite the challenges, the resilient corals that survived the Fourth Global Bleaching Event have now spawned in our open ocean nursery, a hopeful sign for the future. Photos: Karley Feather for Coral Restoration Foundation™ #CoralRestoration #Teamwork #MarineConservation #Sustainability #ReefResilience