Coral reefs are referred to as the rainforests of the sea, known for their diversity, bright colors, and variety of life and activity. What many people do not realize, however, are the numerous resources they provide us in addition to their overwhelming beauty. Coastline protection, economic revenue, marine habitat, and food production to name a few! Unfortunately, coral populations have drastically declined globally the past few decades from coral bleaching events, disease, overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction. Without healthy coral reef ecosystems, we lose many of the critical resources that they provide. Thankfully, researchers at the University of Miami (UM) are working hard to actively research and restore depleted coral reef populations. Dr. Diego Lirman, an Associate Professor and AAUS diver at UM’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science, has been studying coastal ecosystems for decades. When he realized the danger these beloved resources were in, he shifted his research to focus on coastal ecosystem disturbances, human impacts, and their recovery. In 2007, he created the Benthic Ecology and Coral Restoration Lab utilizing AAUS scientific diving for coral reef research and active restoration known as “coral gardening”. The coral gardening methodology involves growing coral species in underwater nurseries to create a sustainable source of healthy coral colonies which can then be outplanted onto wild coral reefs via SCUBA. This process aims to use active restoration to promote natural recovery of degraded coral reef ecosystems. With increased interest, expanding efforts, and the realization of how much work needed to be done, the Rescue a Reef (RAR) program was born.
Rescue a Reef was designed in 2015 to support UM’s coral reef research and restoration through outreach, education, and citizen science. The program engages interested individuals in coral reef biology, ecology, and conservation by allowing them to assist UM researchers with hands-on, experiential activities. University of Miami divers use their AAUS diving authorization to explain and train scientific diving techniques to citizen scientist SCUBA divers on RAR excursions. On these excursions, divers learn about basic coral nursery maintenance, collection, and outplanting methodologies. It is a platform that allows the general public to become both educated on active coral restoration and immersed in the field of scientific diving. By involving these citizen scientists in coral conservation and restoration activities, they become invested in and excited about protecting these critical marine resources in Miami-Dade County.
Since 2015, RAR has hosted 34 expeditions, trained 381 citizen scientist divers, and outplanted 2,400 corals on the reefs of South Florida. Coral gardening has expanded considerably the last few years and is starting to have significant, positive impacts on localized recovery. Rescue a Reef’s corals have an ~85% survival rate, a great sign for the program and its participants. Even so, RAR and UM researchers know restoration is not a long-term solution. Ocean warming and acidification continue to pose serious threats to corals. That is why Dr. Lirman’s lab collaborates with other UM researchers, using cutting-edge science and methodologies to develop more resilient and genetically diverse coral populations.
All of this contributes to Rescue a Reef’s ultimate goal: to engage and educate the local community, increase scientific literacy in coastal and coral conservation, and foster ocean stewardship. Learn how you can contribute at www.rescueareef.com!
Program Director: Dr. Diego Lirman
Program Manager / Photos:Dalton Hesley