about the project

Project Summary

Seatrees is working with Plant a Million Corals Foundation (PaMC) to advance coral restoration efforts in the Florida Keys. Founded by world-renowned coral scientist Dr. David Vaughan, PaMC is dedicated to developing and sharing micro-fragmentation and reskinning techniques that accelerate coral growth and improve reef restoration worldwide. Working alongside his daughter, Dee Dee Vaughan, Dr. Vaughan operates a fully off-grid, land-based coral nursery in the Florida Keys, where cutting-edge restoration methods are put into action.

a fragile ecosystem

Coral Reefs in Florida

Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse and valuable ecosystems on the planet, providing habitat for marine life, coastal protection, and essential resources for millions of people. However, reefs are declining due to climate change, ocean acidification, and disease. By restoring corals through innovative techniques, we can help reefs recover faster and build resilience against future environmental challenges.

Challenge
Coral reefs worldwide face severe threats from climate change, ocean acidification, pollution, and disease. The Florida Keys' coral reefs, in particular, have suffered significant losses, with many species now endangered or near-threatened.
Solution
By leveraging micro-fragmentation and reskinning techniques, PaMC accelerates coral growth, allowing for faster reef recovery. The project integrates advanced monitoring and artificial reef structures (REEForms) to enhance coral survival and long-term reef restoration.
Project Goals
Seatrees is funding key restoration efforts, including expanding the PaMC coral nursery, propagating 3,000 corals for resilience, and out-planting them at an optimal reef site. To ensure the project's success, ongoing monitoring and reporting will track coral health and survival over time using advanced tracking technology.

Why are corals so important?

Ocean Biodiversity

  • Corals cover less than 1% of the ocean’s floors, however, our fisheries depend on the reefs for 25-40% of the catch globally. Coral reefs are places for fish to breed, feed, grow, and live.
  • 700 million people depend on these reef fish for their subsitance

Tourism

  • Every year, eco tourists spend over $30 billion in tourism dollars visiting coral reefs and the communities that surround them.
  • They provide the living habitat for hundreds of species of fish and thousands of species of invertebrates.

Air quality

  • Coral reefs are the rainforests of the sea, and along with other ocean plants, produce a large amount of the oxygen we breath
Project Partner

Plant a Million Corals

Plant a Million Corals (PaMC) is a foundation dedicated to restoring coral reefs through innovative micro-fragmentation and reskinning techniques. Founded by Dr. David Vaughan, the foundation operates an off-grid, land-based coral nursery in the Florida Keys, where groundbreaking coral propagation and restoration methods are implemented.

Learn More about PAMC

This project focuses on propagating 3,000 coral colonies using micro-fragmentation and reskinning techniques. The selected species include:

Mustard Hill Coral (Porites astreoides) – 1,000 fragments

A hardy, disease-resistant coral that thrives in various reef environments.

Mountainous Star Coral (Orbicella faveolata) – 1,000 fragments

A slow-growing yet vital reef-building species, classified as endangered due to climate change and disease.

Knobby Brain Coral (Pseudodiploria clivosa) – 1,000 fragments

Found in shallow reefs and seagrass meadows, this species is classified as Near Threatened due to habitat loss.

A little further reading...

Impact

  • 3,000 corals propagated and outplanted to restore reef ecosystems.
  • Improved genetic diversity and increased coral growth rates using micro-fragmentation.
  • Monitoring and reporting to track long-term coral survival and reef impact.

Marine Life

The restored coral reefs will support a wide variety of marine life, including:

  • Fish species such as parrotfish, angelfish, and snapper.
  • Crustaceans like lobsters and crabs that rely on reefs for shelter.
  • Marine invertebrates such as sea urchins, which help maintain reef health.
  • Larger predators including reef sharks and groupers that depend on healthy reef ecosystems.

How will the corals be planted?

The restoration process will involve three different methods to optimize coral growth and reef recovery:

  1. 1,000 coral fragments reared on 3.5 cm plugs and outplanted directly onto the reef, where they will naturally fuse together in situ.
  2. 1,000 coral fragments attached to 100 medium-sized REEForms (artificial reef structures), each supporting 10 coral fragments that will be outplanted after fusing in the nursery.
  3. 1,000 coral fragments attached to 50 large REEForms, each supporting 20 coral fragments, also to be outplanted after fusing in the nursery.

Regenerating Marine Ecosystems Creates Sustainable Benefits

This project directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

Climate Action

Coral reefs act as natural carbon sinks, helping mitigate climate change impacts. This project strengthens reef resilience, allowing them to better withstand ocean warming and acidification.

Life Below Water

Restoring and protecting marine ecosystems ensures biodiversity and resilience against climate change. By planting corals, we help rebuild reef habitats that sustain marine species and coastal economies.

Life on Land

Healthy oceans contribute to healthy coastal communities. Coral reefs support fisheries, ecotourism, and shoreline protection, reducing erosion and storm surge impacts for millions of people globally.