Coral Nursery & Reef Restoration | Exuma, Bahamas

On January 27, 2013, a 45' sailing vessel ran aground on the shallow reef between Guana and Fowl Cays on the eastern end of Elizabeth Harbour, Exuma, Bahamas. The reef is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Elizabeth Harbour and is a popular community snorkeling location. The vessel caused severe damage to the reef leaving large swaths of bare substrate. Shortly after the vessel was salvaged, myself and colleague Catherine Booker of the Elizabeth Harbour Conservation Partnership (EHCP) performed an initial assessment of the grounding site, determining that the areal extent of the damage to be approximately 500 square meters.

A collaborative restoration project was initiated between SUSiE, the EHCP, and Fabien Cousteau's conservation organization, Plant-a-Fish (PAF). I led the construction and installation of 9 coral nursery arrays; growing staghorn and elkhorn coral fragments for replanting back onto the reef to replenish those damaged by the vessel grounding.

SUSiE advances this restoration project annually aboard its Expeditions, involving both its students, as well as those of the local community.

Expertise I bring to this project: Coral Nurseries & Targeted Restoration | Research Expeditions & Field Ops | Experiential Education & Citizen Science

initial impact assessment

project highlights

January 27, 2013

The 45’ s/v catamaran “Next Life” ran aground on the shallow reef between Guana and Fowl Cays on the eastern end of Elizabeth Harbour, Exuma, Bahamas.

February 9-10 | Initial Assessment

~ 500 sq. meters of healthy reef was impacted by the vessel grounding. ~400 live/broken coral fragments were rescued and placed in temporary nurseries, and ~600 kg. of rubble was removed to prevent further damage.

Restoration Project Partnerships

SUSiE leads a collaborative restoration project with Fabien Cousteau’s organization, Plant-a-Fish, and the Elizabeth Harbour Conservation Partnership.

Installing the Coral Nursery

Demonstrating to team members of PAF and EHCP how we will be anchoring the coral nursery arrays to the seafloor.

Anchoring the Coral Arrays

Working with local Bahamian students and volunteers of EHCP to install the anchoring systems for the coral nursery arrays.

Project Partners

(l-r) Catherine Booker (EHCP), myself (SUSiE), and Fabien Cousteau (PAF) overlooking a newly installed and planted coral array.

Community Involvement

Launching the project provided a perfect opportunity to get the local school kids involved.

SUSiE Student Involvement

Each summer, SUSiE Expeditions students contribute to the restoration project. Students explant corals from the nursery onto the reef areas damaged by the vessel grounding. They also perform maintenance on the coral nursery and propagate more fragments on the nursery arrays to replace those explanted to the reef.

Community Involvement

SUSiE and EHCP work with Bahamian students of Grow Exuma at the restoration site. Local dive shop, Dive Exuma, provides boat support to bring students to the reef and facilitate their active participation in transplanting nursery corals to the vessel grounding site.

SUSiE Expeditions Science

Dr. Mark Warner (UDel) teaching students to use a Diving PAM Fluorometer. Students measure fluorescence of corals after planting to assess their 'health' and recovery from the inherent stress they experience during the explanting process.

Restoration Progress

Most of the rescued corals and nursery-grown corals are established and growing well, with an average of 85% survivorship. The staghorn (seen here) and elkhorn corals planted in 2016 are starting to cover the damaged areas as they did before the vessel grounding.

Coral Nursery & Reef Restoration | Exuma, Bahamas

CORAL REEF RESTORATION | EXUMA, BAHAMAS

initial impact assessment

project highlights