Asexual Coral Propagation Asexual Coral Propagation and Transplanting Imperiled and Transplanting Imperiled

Corals onto Reef Ball Corals onto Reef Ball Breakwaters for Breakwaters for

Snorkeling & additional Snorkeling & additional Wave Attenuation.Wave Attenuation.

For Cayman Marriott For Cayman Marriott Copyright, 2005 © Reef Ball Foundation, Inc.

RBF Volunteer Services RBF Volunteer Services DivisionDivision

The Volunteer services division of the Reef Ball Foundation works specifically with resorts that have Reef Balls to offer a partnership that typically has little or sometimes no “hard costs” for the resort to enable their Reef Balls to be fully transplanted with imperiled corals which is both a community service and an asset to the resort.

This is accomplished by combining coral experts from around the world with ecotourist paying volunteers to fund the project expenses. The resorts offer an attractive package of hotel services, typically in the off season, usually including room & board and scuba/boating support.

Ecotourist revenues usually are enough to pay for coral transplant supplies and their freight, expert airfares, and stipends for the expert team leaders. The more attractive the resort, its location, lead time and the package offered, the higher the revenues become thus minimizing RBF & the resorts out of pocket expenses.

Propagation & Transplant Propagation & Transplant System for Reef BallsSystem for Reef Balls

Minimize Underwater/Diver WorkMinimize Underwater/Diver Work Wide Range of Corals-Soft & HardWide Range of Corals-Soft & Hard Minimize CostsMinimize Costs Strong AttachmentStrong Attachment Simple enough for volunteers/indigenous Simple enough for volunteers/indigenous

work forces when supervisedwork forces when supervised Allow morphology changes-RelocateAllow morphology changes-Relocate No damage to natural reefs.No damage to natural reefs.

RB Adapter Plug SystemRB Adapter Plug System

Your Reef Balls already have built Your Reef Balls already have built into them coral attachment points into them coral attachment points

Coral PlugsCoral Plugs

Propagated or Transplanted Corals Propagated or Transplanted Corals embedded directly into Concrete embedded directly into Concrete plugsplugs

Works on nearly all hard corals and Works on nearly all hard corals and Gorgonian Corals found in CaymansGorgonian Corals found in Caymans

Plugs could be planted by GuestsPlugs could be planted by Guests Great photo opportunity for Great photo opportunity for

press/publicitypress/publicity

Coral PlugsCoral Plugs

Coral PlugsCoral Plugs

Coral PlugsCoral Plugs

Coral Plugs-@ 7 weeks Coral Plugs-@ 7 weeks BasingBasing

After Planting, Reef Balls After Planting, Reef Balls mature more rapildymature more rapildy

Ethics of Coral Ethics of Coral AquacultureAquaculture

•Start only with imperiled corals (A very small amount of corals are needed because they are propogated, not just transplanted)

• Local Species Only

•Suggest training of Government biologists as part of project

Ethics of Coral Ethics of Coral AquacultureAquaculture

•Start with small fragments, not adult colonies

•Transplant only within ranges of depth, current, visibility, temperature, etc. of selected species.

•Use best known practices

Ethics of Coral RestorationEthics of Coral Restoration

•Start only with imperiled corals unless selecting for traits requires propagation from mother colony.

•Species Diversity of Natural Reefs-all life, not just corals.

• Don’t transplant larger than fragment size if morphology at issue.

Coral Transplant & Coral Transplant & Propagation ProjectsPropagation Projects

•Volunteer Based Projects-Curocao-Pago Pago-Maldive Islands-Dominica-Antigua-Florida-Thailand (Post Tsunami)

-Planned: Stacia, Cancun, others

Coral Transplant & Coral Transplant & Propagation ProjectsPropagation Projects

•Research Based Projects

-Puerto Rico (Austin Kirby Bowden)-Sarasota (RBDG)-Ft. Lauderdale (Nova Southeastern)-Mustique, (Applied Marine Tech)-Dominica (Applied Marine Tech)-Baltic Sea (Marilym)

Coral Transplant & Coral Transplant & Propagation ProjectsPropagation Projects

•Additional Monitoring Based Projects

-Pago Pago (C.O.R.L.)- Maldives (4-Season Staff Biologist)-Curacao (Porto Maria Biologists)-Jacksonville High School -Turks & Caicos (Marsha Pardee)-F.I.T., SPARS, N.Z., HK, Oman,...

Photos-7 Months Progression Staghorn & Photos-7 Months Progression Staghorn & Elkhorn Corals-In AntiguaElkhorn Corals-In Antigua

Photos-18 Months Photos-18 Months Progression Staghorn Progression Staghorn

CoralCoral

Photos –28 Months Photos –28 Months Progression-CurocaoProgression-Curocao

Photos-28 month Photos-28 month ProgressionProgression

•Photos-Snorkel Trail OptionsPhotos-Snorkel Trail OptionsSculptures, Layercakes, Etc.Sculptures, Layercakes, Etc.

•Photos-Snorkel Trail OptionsPhotos-Snorkel Trail OptionsPlaque Examples.Plaque Examples.

•Photos-Snorkel Trail OptionsPhotos-Snorkel Trail OptionsPlaques InstalledPlaques Installed

•Photos-Snorkel Trail OptionsPhotos-Snorkel Trail OptionsSample Trail GuideSample Trail Guide

Next StepsNext Steps

Hotel gives commitment to rooms, Hotel gives commitment to rooms, food, dive support, dates and permitsfood, dive support, dates and permits

Volunteer Services Division assesses Volunteer Services Division assesses offer and provides Hotel with full offer and provides Hotel with full proposal. proposal.

If hotel accepts, an (often) refundable If hotel accepts, an (often) refundable mobilization deposit is required and mobilization deposit is required and VSD springs into action.VSD springs into action.