Corals died on a massive scale in 2015 to 2017 due to hot waters, the worse global event in history. In some places >90% of the corals have bleached and died. However, a few corals did not bleach even in the hotter water. Unfortunately many of these "genetic treasures" are subsequently killed off by coral predators. The project involves communities in coral predator removal, creation of nurseries of resilient corals, and out-planting second generation bleaching resistant corals to reefs.
The massive global coral bleaching crisis worsened in 2016, due to unusually hot waters from El Nino. In bleaching the corals lose their brown micro-algae and they usually starve to death. Without corals, the reefs provide poor fish habitat and communities suffer. In the mass bleaching of 2000 in Fiji, we saw that 10% of the corals did not bleach, but unfortunately these surviving corals were subsequently killed by over-abundant predators, such as crown of thorns starfish, COTS.
We have developed coral gardening techniques that are both effective and low cost, being featured on BBC and Discovery Channel, etc., and reported in the scientific literature. Working with communities we will conduct coral health workshops, and will begin a coral nursery program focusing on rescuing and cultivating fragments of the heat-adapted corals. We will also implement a parallel bounty program for removing the highly destructive and overabundant COTS, using them dried as chicken feed
Communities will be empowered to save the lives of thousands of surviving corals that are resistant to warm water bleaching, but that can not survive the onslaught of over-abundant coral predators without help. These communities will restore patches of healthy corals to reefs by planting second generation climate-adapted corals of diverse species. Five villages in Fiji, or a total of 2,500 people, 2,000 people in Vanuatu, 700 people on Christmas island Kiribati will benefit
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