Abstract Summary
The Coral Restoration Foundation Curaçao (CRFC) was founded in 2015 as a non-profit organization, with missions “(a) to promote awareness of coral reef health and survival and the environmental and social benefits of reef ecosystems; (b) to engage communities in nursery and restoration efforts by encouraging long term involvement, as well as facilitating partnerships for the purpose of research, restoration, and understanding of coastal research; (c) to grow and restore threatened coral species and to enhance reproductive output to stimulate a natural recovery.” CRFC has drawn inspiration from the techniques pioneered by CRF Florida, and has worked closely with its founder, Ken Nedimyer. CRFC currently includes three participating Dive Centers, and is funded primarily by them, by the business community on Curaçao, and by donations from visiting divers. CRFC has trained 60 certified Restoration Divers, runs regular volunteer restoration dives, and hosts intern marine biologists who perform applied research as well as restoration work. CRFC has three nurseries with a total of 30 trees and 1750 pieces of coral, populated from original A. cervicornis and A. palmata stock encompassing ten independent genotypes from each species. Half a dozen outplanting sites have been established along the southwest (leeward) coast of the island, including in the newly created Marine Park that covers its eastern tip. Over 5000 pieces of coral have been outplanted over the three years of CRFC’s existence, with many individual outplanted pieces reaching sizes over 2 m. The health of the outplanted reefs is excellent overall, with a rate of long-term (> 1 yr) survival in excess of 80%. This is due in part to Curaçao being outside the Caribbean hurricane belt. CRFC is thus contributing significantly to the restoration of Curaçao’s once thriving reef-building corals.
