Reef Conservation Breakthrough: Coral Nurseries in Riviera Maya

Restoring the world's coral reefs is a daunting task, but significant strides are being made in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Here, a small laboratory is leading the charge in saving these vital ecosystems. The reef restoration program, initiated by the Iberostar hotel group in 2019, began with two coral nurseries. One is located at the Playa Paraiso hotel in Riviera Maya, and the other is on Cozumel Island. A third was added in Paraiso in 2023.

The initial aim of the project was to adapt to climate change. The first phase involved conducting thermotolerance experiments on healthy coral colonies from the reef. These colonies were exposed to temperatures that typically cause coral bleaching, and their photosynthetic efficiency was assessed.

"We focus on hard corals," explained Ariadna Leon, the biologist leading Iberostar's reef restoration program in Mexico. "There are two types of coral: soft, which are more susceptible to wave movement, and hard, which provide resistance and coastal protection."

The team selected colonies that performed well under the heat stress and brought them back to the lab for further study. However, Leon clarified that their facility is not yet an aquarium or a biobank, but they aspire to reach that stage. Their ultimate goal is restoration, especially considering that these species are endangered.

Unfortunately, a massive bleaching event occurred in 2023. Despite the loss of many transplanted corals, this event allowed the team to identify and map the colonies that resisted the bleaching. They have since developed their own bleaching protocol.

"We're now working with these resilient colonies and using micro-fragmentation techniques," Leon said. "We've also started using tools designed in the Dominican Republic to help the corals grow and reproduce more quickly. They can grow two to three centimeters in a year."

Leon believes the current priority is to continue fighting the disease and saving the surviving colonies. For example, in Banco Chinchorro, where the disease has just arrived, they hope to use their protocols to prevent further loss. The loss of coral species leads to the loss of ecosystem functions, as all species are interconnected. For instance, when all lobsters are fished, there are no predators left to consume snails, a known predator of coral.

Images courtesy of La Jornada Maya