Abstract Summary
The National Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Mexico (INAPESCA) works on a project for development biotechnology to produce coral colonies and implement actions for reef restoration. The project began in 2009; an aquarium system with controlled conditions (SCC) and small modules of marine nursery (SCM) were installed. An annual production of 350 colonies was maintained by clonal propagation and 1,500 sexual recruits settled until 2011. From 2012 to 2016 a Program for Active Restoration in Mexican Caribbean Coral Reefs was implemented in collaboration with Marine Protected Areas, Academy, and Governmental organizations, with a grant from the National Commission for Biodiversity (CONABIO). A marine nursery was installed in a sandy area with capacity for 1,500 colonies. Outdoor semi-controlled open seawater system and natural light (SCE) was installed within facilities. An annual production of 2,000 colonies by clonal propagation from 8 species (Acropora palmata, A. cervicornis, Orbicella annulata, Orbicella faveolata, Montastraea cavernosa, Undaria agaricites, Porites porites, and Dendrogyra cylindrus) and 10,000 settled Acropora palmata sexual recruits was achieved; the first microfragments production of 2,500 colonies was obtained. Four sites have been successfully restored: coral coverage reached 14%, environmental heterogeneity increased, and the number and biomass of fish community doubled. Colonies of Acropora palmata out-planted in 2011 have been spawning massively since August 2016. Current project (2017-2022), with grant by local government, aim to develop new active restoration programs to: scaling up coral production (goal of 260,000 colonies) through micro-fragmentation techniques, identify successful genotypes for reef restoration and maintain genetic banks, hybrid restoration to build coral colonies that reach both, size and sexual maturity, faster than naturally, and to establish a network of functional restored areas to serve as a source of supply. Finally, a specific monitoring program is being tested to evaluate changes in structure and function during the restoration process
