THE CARIBBEAN CORAL ARK

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) is a lethal coral disease first reported off the coast of Florida, USA, in 2014. Since then, it has spread rapidly across the Caribbean. The disease affects over 20 coral species. The large geographic scale of this outbreak, the high lethality of the disease lesion, and broad susceptibility among coral species make SCTLD unprecedented in its ecological impact and, most likely, the deadliest coral disease outbreak in history.
-- Coral Disease Health Consortium --

Phase 1 of our plan revolves around building coral gene biobanks, or "ARKS", at multiple locations across the Caribbean region. In partnership with qualified, highly skilled local partners, these Arks facilitate the collection of healthy corals from outside the disease boundary and survivor corals that remain within disease-affected areas. The Arks hold these corals in land-based facilities to prevent them from becoming infected, preserve genetic diversity, and propagate (breed) them to restore the Caribbean's diverse coral reef ecosystems.More than half of coral reefs worldwide have been destroyed by the effects of human activity, global warming and climate change since 1970. this is not a sustainable trend.

We begin our global effort to protect existing coral reef ecosystems and restore damaged ones within the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot. Titled "Caribbean Coral Ark", this initiative aims to address the deadly effects of the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, rejuvenate damaged coral reefs and regenerate destroyed reef ecosystems.

Phase 1 of our Caribbean Coral Ark project aims to develop 10 Coral Arks across key locations within the Caribbean region. These 10 Arks will bank 2,000 mother corals and produce 200,000 coral out-plants annually within the first 5-year period. With ten functional Arks, we aim to restore a minimum of 1 hectare of reef annually. Additional investment into capacity building will create greater output for more widespread coral reef restoration.