Restore with Resilience [Coral Reefs]

Rising temperatures threaten coral reefs, which dissipate wave and storm energy to protect nearby shorelines for nearly 200 million people worldwide. To enhance coastal protection, this novel project will identify thermally tolerant coral stocks, propagate in nurseries and outplant at three sites on O’ahu, Hawai’i. Outplanted corals would restore biological function of the reefs, and protect coastal regions from impacts of storms, floods, sea level rise. Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, partnering with NOAA, local government, and non-profit, will test the efficacy of this strategy and evaluate best practices that will be transferable to increase efforts across the state.