Abstract Summary
In The Bahamas, effective restoration of coral populations to achieve species recovery is likely to require restoration efforts on large scales at multiple sites. While scientists and conservation NGOs are conducting experimental coral restoration at a number of sites and have demonstrated the effectiveness of these efforts, the scale and geographic scope of efforts is limited and likely insufficient to promote recovery of key coral species. To increase capacity for coral restoration The Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) has created the Reef Rescue Network, a partnership between coral reef scientists and local partners including community organizations, NGOs and dive operators. This approach takes advantage of scientific advances in reef restoration that increase the likelihood of successful restoration, as well as an increase in interest in coral restoration from a large stakeholder base. Within the network, PIMS technical staff and other scientists guide restoration, including selecting sites using available scientific data, conducting population genetics, training local partners to manage nurseries, providing guidance for outplanting, and conducting monitoring to evaluate success and adapt restoration strategies. Local partners, take ownership of their nurseries and restoration sites, including care for and maintain nurseries and conduct outplanting under the guidance of scientific staff. PIMS has also developed a PADI Reef Rescue Diver Specialty Course for local partners to offer to guests to increase capacity for reef restoration efforts and build support for these efforts among key stakeholder groups. To offset costs incurred by local partners for maintaining coral nurseries, the Reef Rescue Network is working with partners to develop revenue streams based on their coral restoration activities, including promoting local partners through the Reef Rescue Network Website and social media, developing marketing materials to promote local partners, training dive instructors to offer the PADI Reef Rescue Diver Specialty Course, and organizing and promoting coral restoration events run by local partners. Through this model, we hope to raise awareness of issues related to coral reefs and how restoration can be used with other strategies to address them, as well as build capacity for conducting widespread coral restoration throughout The Bahamas and elsewhere in the Caribbean.
