International Workshop Bolsters Coral Restoration Efforts

Dr. Dirk Petersen (right), founder of SECORE, trains colleagues in coral larval husbandry at the University of Guam Marine Lab during a night time spawning event in 2013.

 The University of Guam Marine Laboratory and Underwater World will host its third International Coral Spawning Workshop, from April 16th to 23rd, under the sponsorship of SECORE International.

The workshop, entitled “New techniques for staghorn Acropora restoration in the Indo-Pacific” shares newly-developed protocols for sexual reproduction and rearing of critical but degraded habitat-building corals for restoration and conservation.

Participants representing five countries and territories in the region will be trained in SECORE’s novel approaches to coral restoration. Supporters of this effort include The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the California Academy of Sciences (CAS), Henry Doorly Zoo, and other partners. Local sponsors include Micronesian Diving Association, Hertz Guam, and the Port of Guam.

The workshop is part of a global coral restoration initiative led by SECORE, CAS, and TNC to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among international and regional partners. Accordingly, the workshop aims to facilitate future collaborations for coral restoration efforts to support reef rehabilitation in Guam and the Indo-Pacific region.

For more information, please contact Dr. Laurie Raymundo at lraymundo@triton.uog.edu or (671) 735-2184.