SAFE: Atlantic Acropora Corals - 2018-2021 Conservation Action Plan - Assets Service
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SAFE: Atlantic Acropora Corals
2018-2021 Conservation Action Plan
Submitted: 18 September 2018
Revised: 7 June 2019
Approved: 20 August 2019
Program Leader: Bart Shepherd
Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences
With program partners and advisors.
Table of Contents:
Background …………………………………………………………………………..……. 3
Program Goal …………………………………………………………………………..……. 3
Program Operational Structure ………………………………………………..…….…….. 5
Conservation Target …………………………………………………………..……....……. 6
Status Of Taxa Within The AZA Community ……………………………...……………… 7
AZA Conservation Activities ……………………………………………...……………… 7
AZA Public Engagement Activities ………………………………………...……………. 11
Conservation Status Of Taxa ……………………………………………………....………. 12
Recovery Plan ………………………………………………………....……………...…….. 12
Threats ………………………………………………………....…………………...………... 13
SAFE Program Work Plan ………………………………………………………....………. 14
Funding Contributions to Date ...……………………………………....…………………… 15
Funding Objectives ………………………………………………………………………….. 17
Action Opportunities for AZA-Accredited Zoos and Aquariums ……………………….... 17
Program Summary Table ……………………………………………………………………. 19
References ………………………………………………………....………………………… 28
2
Background
The two species of Atlantic Acropora corals, along with their naturally-occurring hybrid, were
once keystone species and primary reef-builders in the tropical western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and
Caribbean regions. Healthy populations of these corals provide a myriad of ecosystem services and
benefits to local people, including protection from storms and wave surge, habitat for important fishery
species, ecotourism (diving, snorkeling), and more. During the 1970’s and 1980’s populations of both
A. cervicornis and A. palmata underwent precipitous declines in abundance (National Marine
Fisheries Service, 2015). This significant decline, documented to be as high as 97% across large
sections of the Caribbean and Florida, greatly reduced these species’ ability to successfully reproduce
through both of their natural reproductive strategies: sexual (broadcast spawning) and asexual
(fragmentation). Based on current scientific understanding, the primary cause of this decline is
attributed to disease, especially White Band Disease (WBD). However, synergistic effects from
multiple threats (local, regional, and global) are impacting extant populations and impeding natural
recovery. AZA member institutions have been directly engaged in field conservation and
conservation-related education of these species and their habitat for many years. In March 2018,
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Disney’s The Seas, The Florida Aquarium, Mote Marine Laboratory,
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, John G. Shedd Aquarium, and Steinhart Aquarium
proposed Atlantic Acropora corals as a SAFE program. This conservation action plan was approved in
August 2019.
Program Goal
The long-term vision of the SAFE: Atlantic Acropora corals program is increased abundance
and genetic diversity of wild populations of elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) and staghorn coral
(Acropora cervicornis), that these species remain extant throughout their native range, experience
successful reproduction and recruitment, and provide valuable ecosystem services and benefits. The
3-year program goal supporting this vision includes a combination of conservation and restoration
activities: (1) developing at least four capacity-building restoration centers in the region; (2)
accelerating production and outplanting of both asexually and sexually-propagated corals; (3)
increasing capacity of in situ and ex situ nurseries; (4) expanding partnerships with non-traditional
collaborators to support restoration; (5) increase capacity for scientific research on topics supporting
restoration through expanded partnerships and integration of AZA members into existing conservation
networks; and (6) engaging our audiences on the threats facing these species and actions that they
can take to reduce these threats. While the priority for the SAFE program will be on A. cervicornis and
A. palmata, the project also includes research with their naturally-occurring F1 hybrid (A. prolifera).
We aim to increase the number of AZA-accredited member institutions directly participating in
and contributing to the conservation of Atlantic Acropora corals (see Action Opportunities Summary
List), and increase awareness of the global coral reef crisis and impacts to Atlantic Acropora species
through our collective education, outreach and public engagement activities. Through these
conservation and educational programs, AZA-accredited member institutions and project partners will
3create a measurable positive impact on these populations and public awareness of their status, their
importance, and their place in the global coral reef crisis.
The following work plan was developed by a steering committee consisting of leaders from
seven AZA member institutions (Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Disney’s The Seas, Florida Aquarium,
Mote Marine Laboratory, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium, and Steinhart
Aquarium), along with project partners, external advisors and the Aquatic Invertebrate Taxon Advisory
Group. This plan supports the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Recovery Plan for Elkhorn
(Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. cervicornis) Corals, prepared by the Acropora Recovery Team
for the National Marine Fisheries Service in March 2015.
The SAFE Atlantic Acropora Corals program invites and welcomes all interested AZA zoos
and aquariums to become program partners, funders and collaborators.
4Program Operational Structure
Program Leadership:
Bart Shepherd Senior Director, Steinhart Aquarium bshepherd@calacademy.org
California Academy of Sciences (415) 379-5445
Program Partners - Steering Committee:
Mitch Carl Curator of Aquatics, mitchc@omahazoo.com
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (402) 738-6933
Erinn Muller Science Director, International Center for Coral emuller@mote.org
Reef Research and Restoration, (941) 388-4441 x310
Mote Marine Laboratory
Keri O’Neil Coral Nursery Manager, koneil@flaquarium.org
The Florida Aquarium (813) 425-1679
Mark Schick Director, Fishes Department, MSchick@sheddaquarium.org
Shedd Aquarium (312) 692-3189
M. Andrew Stamper Science Operations Manager/Clinical Andy.M.Stamper@disney.com
Veterinarian, Disney’s Animals, Science and (407) 560-5576
Environment
Becky Ellsworth Curator, Shores Department Becky.Ellsworth@columbuszoo.org
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (614) 724-3436
Program Advisors:
Mike Brittsan Director of Aquatic Sciences (retired), mikebrittsan@gmail.com
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (614) 724-3580
Margaret Miller Research Director, SECORE International. m.miller@secore.org
Team Lead, NOAA’s Acropora Recovery (614) 973-3559
Implementation Team
Tom Moore Coral Reef Restoration Team Lead, tom.moore@noaa.gov
NOAA Restoration Center (727) 647-6538
Craig Dahlgren Executive Director, cdahlgren@perryinstitute.org
Perry Institute for Marine Science (561) 741-0192 x231
Mary Hagedorn Senior Research Scientist, Hagedornm@si.edu
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (808) 520-1368
Linda Penfold Director, South-East Zoo Alliance for Linda.penfold@sezarc.com
Reproduction and Conservation (SEZARC) (904) 556-1675
Amelia Moura Science Director, amelia@coralrestoration.org
Coral Restoration Foundation (786) 780-2658
5Conservation Target
The targets of the AZA SAFE program for Atlantic Acropora Corals are elkhorn coral (A. palmata) and
staghorn coral (A. cervicornis). While these species are the priority, some of the program goals also
include working with their naturally-occurring F1 hybrid (A. prolifera).
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Order Scleractinia
Family Acroporidae
cropora cervicornis
Genus species A
Acropora palmata
Acropora prolifera
Acropora cervicornis, “staghorn coral” Acropora palmata, “elkhorn coral”
6Status of Taxa at AZA Member Institutions
AZA Conservation Activities:
Only a very few AZA member organizations manage populations of Atlantic Acropora corals
within their facilities (Table 1). This is partly due to the difficulty of obtaining specimens, given the
multiple levels of protection (state, federal, international), compounded by the difficulty of successfully
managing aquarium populations in the long-term.
Table 1: Number of AZA member organizations currently housing Atlantic Acropora c orals.
Species Number of Organizations
A. cervicornis 7
A. palmata 5
A. prolifera 0
Although the number of AZA member institutions managing Atlantic Acropora corals in their
facilities is quite low, many members have been actively engaged in field conservation and research
activities with these species, sometimes for more than a decade. Numerous AZA member institutions
and their partners have been conducting restoration of Atlantic Acropora corals by outplanting corals
to repopulate reefs in southern Florida and the greater Caribbean region. These generally occur via
two modes: (1) asexual propagation, nursery management, and outplanting through partnership with
the Coral Restoration Foundation in Florida, and (2) gamete collection, fertilization, settlement and
outplanting of sexually-derived coral recruits at several locations in the Caribbean region in
partnership with SECORE (SExual COral REproduction) International. The SECORE approach, where
gametes are collected from wild corals and cross-fertilized in the lab, results in genetically-unique
individuals that can be used to enhance population abundance and genetic diversity through
restoration. The partnership between SECORE and the zoo and aquarium community has resulted in
numerous scientific breakthroughs, including the first lab-reared A. palmata outplanted on Caribbean
reefs, as well as documentation of the first lab-reared A. palmata to spawn concurrently with its wild
conspecifics in Curacao (Chamberland et al., 2015, 2016).
These activities have consistently increased in scale and frequency during the last decade,
with multiple spawning workshops occurring each year, and thousands of corals being outplanted
during this time. From the years 2014-2016, 18 AZA facilities invested at least $1.4 million toward
conservation and restoration of Atlantic Acropora corals. A consortium of AZA member institutions,
including Georgia Aquarium, The Florida Aquarium, SeaWorld, Akron Zoo, Columbus Zoo and
Aquarium, in collaboration with Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) and other partners, have
conducted restoration using the asexual approach. Activities include coral nursery management,
7propagating and outplanting corals, along with collecting and fertilizing gametes spawned by
broodstock in the nurseries. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, John G.
Shedd Aquarium, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Aquarium of the Pacific, Moody
Gardens, Texas State Aquarium, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, Minnesota Zoo and
Discovery Place are all zoo and aquarium partners of SECORE International. Over the past decade,
more than 50 zoos and aquariums have supported SECORE by sending staff to participate in
restoration workshops in project locations in The Bahamas, Curacao, Guam, Mexico, the Philippines,
Puerto Rico, Singapore, and the US Virgin Islands.
In 2004, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium became the first zoo in the United States to partner with
SECORE. CZA has supported SECORE financially and through collaborative education and outreach,
including an episode of Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild. At the time, Mike Brittsan was the Chair of the
AZA Coral Reef CAP, and many aquariums were fragmenting corals (asexual propagation) to produce
and exchange exhibit animals. CZA saw SECORE as a unique, collaborative partnership between
coral reef scientists and aquarists that provided an opportunity for zoos and aquariums to utilize
sexual reproduction for more sustainable animal acquisition, as well as enhance their involvement in
conservation of species and habitats in the wild.
The California Academy of Sciences launched a five-year partnership with SECORE and The
Nature Conservancy in 2016 to advance the science and scalability of coral restoration, starting in the
Caribbean. This partnership is focused on utilizing principles of industrial design and engineering to
further develop SECORE’s coral restoration substrates, called “seeding units”, to enable
orders-of-magnitude reduction in time and labor associated with restoration. The Academy brings
these stories to our guests through a combination of exhibits, public programming, and a planetarium
show, Expedition Reef, highlighting the SECORE partnership and efforts in Curacao, as well as other
research and sustainability projects on coral reefs around the globe.
The Florida Aquarium (FLAQ) “Coral Farm” displays techniques used for propagation of coral
fragments, and has housed A. cervicornis and/or A. palmata almost continuously for the past 16
years. FLAQ also participates annually in coral spawning and larval rearing work in the Florida Keys,
working primarily with A. cervicornis in the Coral Restoration Foundation nursery, but also with A.
palmata acquired from other permit holders in recent years. FLAQ is one of the few institutions to
successfully rear Atlantic Acroporids from larvae and manage them in aquaria long-term. The FLAQ
Center for Conservation coral nursery facility successfully reared 122 A. cervicornis and 230 A.
palmata juveniles from 2017, and 3,200 A. cervicornis sexual recruits from 2018, which were
successfully released back into in-situ nurseries and reef sites in early 2019.. In addition, newly
developed aquarium systems to induce spawning in the laboratory are being installed at FLAQ. These
systems will initially be used to focus on spawning corals rescued from the Stony Coral Tissue Loss
disease epidemic in Florida, and will be used for Atlantic Acroporids in future years to increase
production of juveniles for restoration and conservation research.
Mote Marine Laboratory has been working with Atlantic Acropora corals for over fifteen years.
Their first large-scale asexual reproduction effort began in 2007 with A. cervicornis, as part of a
multi-partner effort to create a network of in-situ coral nurseries to support restoration efforts
throughout Florida and the Caribbean. Currently Mote operates two field-based A. cervicornis
8nurseries, one off the Lower Keys and another off Key West, and maintains more than 10,000
fragments representing 85 genotypes to support restoration and research. Since 2008, Mote has
outplanted more than 25,000 fragments of in-situ nursery-grown A. cervicornis to more than 30 reefs
throughout the Lower Florida Keys. In addition, Mote Staff have pioneered methodologies for the
consistent mass rearing of sexually produced Acroporid recruits, resulting in the generation of nearly
1,500 genetically distinct colonies of A. palmata and 300 A. cervicornis, one year post-spawning. A
subset of these colonies are currently being asexually propagated through a novel process called
microfragmentation. This technique has allowed the mass proliferation of tissue from new genotypes
using only 6 cm² of live tissue as broodstock. Currently, Mote generates over 10,000 fragments per
year from these captive reared genotypes to outplant onto local reefs. Mote’s work has resulted in
unprecedented tools for the conservation of these critically endangered species, in a robust manner,
addressing the need to preserve both their ecosystem function and their genetic diversity.
Disney’s The Seas: Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has provided more than $2.6
million to nonprofit organizations working with communities to lead more than 40 coral conservation
projects around the world. In 2007, Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment (ASE) division led an
ecosystem-based adaptive restoration project in southern Great Abaco, The Bahamas by surveying
and translocating long-spined sea urchins and transplanting coral fragments onto degraded patch
reefs from a low maintenance/storm-resistant line nursery. After five years of work it was determined
that reefs were still declining, demonstrating the need to increase the number of stewards to protect
the vital coral reef ecosystems. In light of this information, the project’s focus concentrated on
expanding the work to a Bahamas-wide effort including community engagement. In 2014, this
capacity-building phase was expanded with the lead of Perry Institute of Marine Science with support
from the Disney Conservation Fund. To date, the Perry Institute and Disney are working with over 30
groups with the common goal of increasing Acropora spp. numbers in The Bahamas within ten years.
John G. Shedd Aquarium has been involved with the conservation and preservation of Atlantic
Acropora corals since 2006. Along with AZA and scientific partners, Shedd was one of the first
institutions to collect gametes from wild colonies of A. palmata in Puerto Rico, fertilize them in a
laboratory and produce coral settlers. Shedd’s involvement with SECORE International led to the
development of innovative, horizontal-kreisel aquarium systems for ex situ management of coral
larvae, allowing hundreds of thousands of corals to develop to the point of settlement. In addition to
this ex situ work, Shedd has been instrumental in the design and production of in situ floating pools
that allow the expansion of coral settlement work into more remote field locations, where land-based
aquarium facilities are not an option. Shedd educates guests about these practices through a public
exhibit at the aquarium that is viewed by over two million visitors each year.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo has been involved with Atlantic Acropora corals and SECORE
International since 2005. Since that time, four Omaha Zoo employees have participated in or helped
lead a total of 20 spawning workshops. In 2006-2008, the Omaha Zoo brought A. palmata l arvae back
from the yearly spawn in Puerto Rico, in some of the first attempts to raise larvae to the juvenile stage
within aquaria. These efforts were very successful, producing over 4,000 juvenile corals over the three
year project duration. These corals were transferred to many project partners around the USA and
internationally. Since 2009, Omaha zoo has been focused on supporting in situ conservation in
9collaboration with SECORE. The zoo has committed to a formal five-year partnership with SECORE.
According to the Annual Report on Conservation and Science (ARCS) surveys, AZA
accredited facilities most frequently supported or worked on coral conservation with the following
organizations during the years 2014-2017:
● SECORE International
● Coral Restoration Foundation
● Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF)
● Central Caribbean Marine Institute
● Perry Institute for Marine Science
● SaveNature.Org
● The Nature Conservancy
Over the same time period, AZA member institutions contributed nearly $5.2 million for
conservation activities related to corals or coral reefs, and $2.1 million specifically toward conservation
activities for the Atlantic Acropora species (Table 2a). In 2017 alone, AZA member institutions,
working with external partners, contributed $1.8 million toward coral reef conservation (Table 2b).
Table 2: Zoo and Aquarium contributions toward coral reef conservation, summarized from the
Annual Report on Conservation and Science (ARCS) surveys conducted by the Association of Zoos
and Aquariums (AZA). (a) Contributions specifically for the Atlantic Acropora species, staghorn and
elkhorn corals for the years 2014-2017. (b) Contributions related to coral reef conservation of any kind
for the same time period.
Atlantic Acropora spp.
Statistic 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total: 2014-2017
Total Reporting Institutions 8 10 12 14 16
Total Amount Allocated $547,574 $355,411 $433,977 $785,395 $2,122,358
Coral Reefs
Statistic 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total: 2014-2017
Total Reporting Institutions 22 26 26 25 35
Total Amount Allocated $1,087,740 $964,048 $1,367,526 $1,783,960 $5,203,275
The Aquatic Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group (AITAG) is in full support of the Atlantic
Acropora CAP. The AITAG chair (Brian Nelson, National Aquarium), and steering committee
members are pleased to be a part of SAFE program. The Atlantic Acropora SAFE program was
introduced to the wider Zoo and Aquarium community at the 2018 Regional Aquatics Workshop
10(RAW) in Tampa, Florida by Mike Brittsan and Kayla Ripple. Most of the institutions represented at
RAW were AZA members.
AZA Public Engagement Activities:
In contrast to the few member institutions currently housing Atlantic Acropora corals,
numerous facilities have developed and are delivering education, public engagement, and outreach
activities concerning these species and their place in the global coral reef crisis. Recent programs and
activities include:
● California Academy of Sciences (CAS):
○ Coral Reefs of the World exhibit, featuring a video and graphic panel highlighting the
reef restoration partnership with SECORE.
○ Expedition Reef, a planetarium show developed by CAS, highlighting the partnership
with SECORE for restoration of Atlantic Acropora c orals. A HD version of this show
designed for classroom educators is distributed online for free.
○ SECORE restoration work is an element in the Coral Reef Dive Show public program,
reaching > 100,000 visitors annually (and more online through a dedicated webcam).
● Columbus Zoo and Aquarium: SECORE exhibit, graphics and videos.
● Disney’s The Seas:
○ 10-year partnership with Friends of the Environment, based on Great Abaco, to provide
funding and expertise to build their program from a small summer camp to multilevel,
age-based, environmental summer camps.
○ Disney and Friends have also had joint ventures to upgrade the K-12 science
curriculum for The Bahamian national schools.
○ Designed and are testing a series of behavioral change posters centered around
corals, mangroves and parrotfish.
○ Working with Perry Institute for Marine Science to build a center for Environmental
Education and Action focusing on community engagement and behavior change
supporting marine conservation throughout The Bahamas.
● Florida Aquarium: Heart of the Sea exhibit, the aquarium’s second largest exhibit,
demonstrating full-size coral “trees” growing A. cervicornis, and out-planting.
● Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium:
○ Atlantic Coral Exhibits in Sarasota, FL, and at the Florida Keys Ecodiscovery Center
○ Sanctuary Reef, an award winning traveling exhibit focused on Florida coral reefs has
been developed by Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium's education department.
○ Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium's Protect Our Reef L icense Plate initiative, which has
raised more than $4 million since 2004 to support vital coral reef research, restoration
and education programs administered by Mote and other universities and nonprofits
throughout Florida.
○ Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium's Ocean Fest (Islamorada and Key West)
○ Research-based Afterschool Program for Students (RAPS): a high school internship
program focused on coral reef research and conservation has been established by
Mote Marine Laboratory within the Florida Keys and the US Virgin Islands
● Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: SECORE exhibit
● Shedd Aquarium: SECORE exhibit
11Conservation Status Of Taxa
Both A. cervicornis and A. palmata were listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species
Act in 2006. Both species are currently listed as “critically endangered” under the IUCN Red List
(Aronson, et al. 2008a, 2008b), and considered “species of concern” by the state of Florida. Both
species and the hybrid are listed as CITES Appendix II. A lack of historical baseline data on
abundance, distribution, population genetics and demographics for these species prevents us from
developing reliable models to predict responses of extant populations to further disturbances and
threats. However recent experimental work documenting corals’ responses to high temperature and
decreasing pH, provides evidence that staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, will be locally extinct in
the Florida Keys by 2035 (Langdon, et al., 2018). Studies show a similar pattern of decline for A.
palmata ( Fogarty et al. 2012, Williams et al. 2014, Miller et al. 2016).
Recovery Plan
In 2015, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released a Recovery Plan for Elkhorn
Coral (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) describing information and
activities they deemed necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of wild populations of these
two species. This recovery plan establishes goals, objectives and criteria that, should they be
attained, are prerequisite to delisting these two threatened species from the ESA.
The NMFS Acropora recovery plan delineates objectives based on two major groupings: (1)
population-based objectives, and (2) threat-based objectives. Population-based objectives focus on
simultaneously increasing abundance of large colonies and recruitment rates, while maintaining
genetic diversity. Threat-based objectives focus on simultaneously reducing the individual and
synergistic effects of disease, rising seawater temperature and ocean acidification, loss of recruitment
habitat, land-based pollutants (e.g. nutrients, sediments and contaminants), regulatory mechanisms,
abrasion and breakage, and predation across the corals’ geographic range.
Primary areas of focus for Atlantic Acropora coral recovery centers around the following
approaches:
(1) Improve understanding of population abundance, trends and structure,
(2) Increase wild populations and likelihood of successful sexual reproduction through restocking
and active management,
(3) Implement ecosystem-level actions, especially enhancing herbivory, to improve habitat,
sustain adult colonies, and promote natural recruitment,
(4) Curb impacts from ocean warming and acidification by reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas
concentrations,
(5) Reduce locally-manageable stress and mortality threats,
(6) Implement mitigation or control strategies to address coral disease and predators.
12The SAFE: Atlantic Acropora Coral Conservation Action Plan for 2018-2021 supports both the
population-based and threat-based recovery objectives in NMFS recovery plan through six areas of
focus: (1) developing restoration training and capacity-building centers; (2) accelerating production
and outplanting of corals; (3) increasing land-based nursery capacity; (4) expanding partnerships with
industry to support restoration; (5) leveraging ex situ populations for scientific research; and (6)
engaging communities and zoo/aquarium visitors to promote conservation behaviors. We aim to
increase funding and AZA member participation to support coral reef recovery in the tropical Atlantic
region. Members of the SAFE: Atlantic Acropora corals steering committee, as well as program
partners and advisors are leading research, recovery and restoration efforts throughout the tropical
Western Atlantic.
Threats
The primary reasons for population decline of Atlantic Acropora corals across their natural
range are a culmination of threats at local, regional and global scales.
Population-based Threats:
(1) Reduced abundance of large, sexually-mature colonies across the natural range
(2) Reduced genotypic diversity
(3) Reduced recruitment rates from both asexual and sexual reproduction
Environmental Threats:
(1) Disease
(2) Ocean warming and acidification from greenhouse gas accumulation
(3) Loss of recruitment habitat
(4) Nutrients, sediments and contaminants (land-based sources of pollution)
(5) Natural and anthropogenic abrasion and breakage
(6) Predation
(7) Lack of adequate regulatory mechanisms
13SAFE Program Work Plan
Please see the Program Summary Table for an outline of specific metrics, including actions, partners,
timelines and budgets for each of these objectives.
Conservation Objectives
Objective Recovery Plan Relevance
(1) Develop at least four restoration centers in the Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for
tropical Atlantic region to increase capacity for Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A.
Acropora restoration. cervicornis) Corals (2015)
(2) Investigate and implement techniques for Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for
accelerating production and outplanting of corals at Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A.
restoration sites across the region. cervicornis) Corals (2015)
(3) Increase in situ and ex situ nursery capacity for Objective 1 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for Elkhorn
banking of valuable genetic material. (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. cervicornis)
Corals (2015)
Public/Stakeholder Engagement Objectives
Objective Recovery Plan Relevance
(4) Expand partnerships with non-traditional Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for
collaborators, leveraging expertise from industrial Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A.
design and engineering firms to support restoration. cervicornis) Corals (2015)
(5) Increase capacity for scientific research on topics Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for
supporting restoration, including cryopreservation Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A.
and interventions that increase resilience, through cervicornis) Corals (2015)
expanded partnerships with universities and other
research institutions, and integration of AZA
members into existing conservation networks.
Communications/Public Awareness Objectives
Objective Recovery Plan Relevance
(6) Engage Caribbean communities and zoo and Objective 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for Elkhorn
aquarium visitors to promote conservation behaviors (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. cervicornis)
that support Atlantic Acropora corals. Corals (2015)
14Funding Objectives
Objective Recovery Plan Relevance
(7) Increase the amount of funds directed to Atlantic Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for
Acropora coral restoration and science by AZA Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A.
member institutions and partners to exceed USD cervicornis) Corals (2015)
$1MM by 2021.
(8) Increase funding beyond traditional conservation Objectives 1 and 2 of the NOAA Recovery Plan for
organizations and conservation-oriented Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A.
philanthropists by recruiting at least two new industry cervicornis) Corals (2015)
or corporate partners to support this project.
Funding Commitments to Date
The California Academy of Sciences’ Hope For Reefs initiative provides seed funding to
SECORE International ($1.2 million over 5-years, 2017-2021) to develop a new “seeding” approach to
coral restoration. Additional funds were allocated for direct costs associated with staff participation in
the partnership with SECORE, as well as indirect support through staff time. Direct ($50,000) and
in-kind support from Autodesk Foundation facilitated collaboration with non-traditional partners in the
industrial design and manufacturing industries, specifically focused around seeding unit designs.
Through a partnership with coral reef scientist, Rebecca Albright, PhD, and the Horniman Museum
and Gardens (London, UK), we constructed a coral spawning laboratory to achieve off-cycle spawning
in scleractinian corals. Although this three-year pilot-project is working with Pacific Acropora spp., the
research supports and informs our collaborative partnerships on reef restoration and fundamental
aspects of corals’ early life-history. A three-year, $150,000 grant from Kingfisher Foundation supports
this project through 2020.
The Florida Aquarium (FLAQ) Center for Conservation funds multiple Acropora coral related
projects: (1) Through partnership with Acuario Nacional Cuba, FLAQ has funded and executed the
design, installation, and maintenance of two in-water Acropora coral nurseries in Guanahacabibes
Peninsula National Park; (2) FLAQ has funded the construction and operation of a restoration focused
coral land based nursery in Apollo Beach Florida called the Center for Conservation; (3) FLAQ funds
and facilitates a multi-institutional Acropora coral spawning project each summer in the Florida Keys,
focusing on advancement of techniques to scale restoration through sexual reproduction; (4) Through
a partnership with the Horniman Museum and Gardens, FLAQ has funded the construction of multiple
land based coral spawning systems to achieve off-cycle spawning in Acroporid corals.
Since 1995, Disney’s The Seas has provided more than $2.6 million to nonprofit organizations
working with communities to lead more than 40 coral conservation projects around the world. In 2014,
this effort was expanded in The Bahamas with the lead of the Perry Institute of Marine Science with
support from the Disney Conservation Fund. To date, the Perry Institute and Disney are working with
15over 30 groups with the common goal of increasing Acropora spp. numbers in The Bahamas within 10
years.
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo formalized a partnership with SECORE in 2017, supporting these
efforts with $12,500 of support. In 2018, HDZ increased this to $30,000 and entered into a five year
agreement to provide SECORE with at least $30,000 per year.
In May 2017, Mote Marine Laboratory completed a state-of-the-art marine science laboratory,
Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration (IC2R3), on its
Summerland Key campus in the Florida Keys to serve as the base of operation for its restoration
initiative. Philanthropic funds supported the entire implementation and creation of this new facility,
focused on coral research and restoration. In the past decade, Mote scientists have planted more than
43,000 corals onto Florida’s reefs, working with multiple partners to achieve effective restoration. In
addition, the State of Florida recently awarded a total of $1 million for Mote, in coordination with the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP), to significantly expand its science-based coral restoration initiative to plant an
additional 50,000 reef-building and branching corals in the Florida Keys. A strategic Florida Keys
Restoration Initiative, led by Mote Marine Laboratory, will be implemented through a consortium of
coral research and restoration institutions, which will (1) demonstrate experience and expertise in
developing innovative technologies for coral restoration; (2) provide existing coral research and
restoration infrastructure and ongoing activities in the Florida Keys; (3) coordinate closely with
appropriate federal and state agencies, as well as consortium partners; and (4) include significant
components of local community engagement and outreach. The U.S. Senate has now approved an
FY 2019 appropriation of $5 million to advance this vital initiative.
Additional funding is required to support the program goals. A collaborative approach to
fundraising will be employed, and the program goal leadership will engage in our broader zoo and
aquarium network to leverage opportunities to engage donors, attract funding, and pursue grants.
16Funding Objectives
The Atlantic Acropora SAFE program goals is to increase the annual conservation-related
spending for these two species to exceed $1MM USD per year. Current funding (summarized above)
has been secured for several high-impact projects, but additional funding is needed to fully implement
the SAFE: Atlantic Acropora program plan.
Funding Objectives
Objective Annual Funding Required
Objective 1: Restoration centers $25,000 per location, per year to support research and restoration
Objective 2: Accelerating production $25,000 for field trials of seeding unit designs
$50,000 for microfragmentation studies
$25,000 to support nursery grow-out
$10,000 to support writing and distributing a restoration manual
Objective 3: Nursery capacity $500,000 to expand land-based nursery capacity
$25,000 for collaboration with the Coral Restoration Consortium
$10,000 to support database of genets held in nursery facilities
$300,000 to support outplanting of nursery corals back on reefs
Objective 4: Expand non-traditional $25,000 to organize and run a design hackathon (one-time cost)
partnerships
Objective 5: Increase research $25,000 to sponsor a USF graduate student (per year for 2 years)
$20,000 to activate research partnerships in the Bahamas
$15,000 to provide corals for scientific research
Objective 6: Public engagement TBD
Action Opportunities for AZA-Accredited Zoos and Aquariums:
Individual Level Support:
❏ Participate as a Project Collaborator.
❏ Consult with AZA Conservation and Education and other AZA committees to incorporate
expertise where appropriate
❏ Identify feasibility and objectives for increasing awareness of corals and call to action.
❏ Participate in communication and education / outreach group organized to create educational
messages and conservation action opportunities for guests and audiences in range countries.
Evaluate of messages/actions to determine reach and effectiveness.
❏ Share your latest coral-focused conservation education resources/materials (e.g., photos of
graphics/signage, interpretation plans, exhibit talking points, docent/volunteer training
materials, fact sheets, conservation related messages, etc.) with the AZA Conservation
Education Committee and the Project Coordinator. The goal of this would be to look at best
17practices and have a centralized clearing house so we can incorporate, deliver and test
updated educational messages and materials into appropriate exhibits and programs.
❏ Promote coral awareness and conservation action opportunities to visitors.
❏ Participate in the development of messages and materials based on assessment of existing
materials / programs.
❏ Participate in evaluation of usage and effectiveness of communications packages.
❏ Participate in efforts to identify projects/collaborations for Coral Partners Program.
❏ Send appropriately trained staff to participate in Coral Partners Program between AZA
institutions and field programs led by agencies/NGOs.
❏ Incorporate / deliver updated educational messages and materials into appropriate exhibits
and programs.
❏ Promote new / updated conservation action opportunities in your institution. Promote project to
visitors (whether you have corals in your care or not).
Institution Level Support:
❏ Provide support for one of your staff members to serve as a Project Coordinator for one of the
projects included in this Atlantic Coral Conservation Action Plan.
❏ Participate as a Project Collaborator on one or more of the projects included in this SAFE
Atlantic Coral Conservation Action Plan.
❏ Provide expertise and personnel resources to help fulfill specific project actions (e.g. graphic
design, audience evaluation, animal care, research).
❏ Provide financial support for one or more of the projects included in this SAFE Atlantic Coral
Conservation Action Plan.
Potential Tier-Leveled Funding Opportunities to Support:
❏ Fund distribution of educational messages and materials to appropriate audiences and
locations.
❏ Fund evaluation of messages/actions to determine reach/effectiveness.
❏ Fund evaluation of usage and effectiveness of communications packages.
AZA Partner Funder Support:
❏ To financially support a significant portion of one or more of the projects included in this SAFE
Atlantic Coral Conservation Action Plan, please contact Bart Shepherd.
182018-2021 SAFE Atlantic Acropora Program Summary Table
Strategic Objective 1: Develop at least four restoration centers in the tropical Atlantic to increase capacity for Acropora restoration.
Action Metrics Timeframe AZA members Field Partners Location(s) Annual
Budget
1a: AZA member institutions are 2018 Columbus Zoo SECORE International Curacao $50,000
Identify stakeholders and identified as leads for each of the Initiate project at 3 Disney’s The Seas The Nature Conservancy Florida per
project partners for at least four project locations; external locations (Florida, Florida Aquarium CARMABI Mexico location
four capacity-building coral field partners are also identified Curacao, and Mexico) Henry Doorly Zoo UNAM Bahamas
restoration centers, located for each project location. Key Mote Marine Lab Perry Institute of Marine Science Dominican
throughout the region. staff identified and/or hired in Shedd Aquarium Cape Eleuthera Institute Republic
Targeted locations include each of the four project locations. 2019 Steinhart Aquarium Bahamas National Trust US Virgin Islands
Florida, Curacao, Mexico, the Add project location Coral Restoration Foundation
Virgin Islands, the Dominican Coral Restoration Consortium
Republic, and the Bahamas. Acropora Recovery Implement.
2020 Team
Add project location Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
Nova Southeastern University
FUNDEMAR
2021
Continue expansion to
additional project sites,
TBD.
1b: At least one collaborative 2018 Columbus Zoo SECORE International Curacao $25,000
Conduct annual workshops research, restoration, or Curacao Disney’s The Seas The Nature Conservancy Florida per
with project partners at these conservation training workshop is Mexico Florida Aquarium CARMABI Mexico location
capacity-building centers. conducted each year at each Florida Henry Doorly Zoo UNAM Bahamas
location during spawning season. Mote Marine Lab Perry Institute of Marine Science Dominican
Shedd Aquarium Cape Eleuthera Institute Republic
2019 Steinhart Aquarium Bahamas National Trust US Virgin Islands
Curacao Coral Restoration Foundation
Bahamas Coral Restoration Consortium
Florida Acropora Recovery Implement.
Dominican Republic Team
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
Nova Southeastern University
2020-2021 FUNDEMAR
Curacao
Bahamas
Florida
Dominican Republic
US Virgin IslandsStrategic Objective 2: Investigate and implement techniques for accelerating production and outplanting of corals to restoration sites throughout the region.
Action Metrics Timeframe AZA members Field Partners Location(s) Annual
Budget
2a: Identify > 5 new design and 2018 Steinhart Aquarium SECORE International Curacao $125,000
SECORE seeding units: material combinations to improve New substrates designed Columbus Zoo The Nature Conservancy Bahamas
Coral larvae are settled on the self-stabilizing nature of in partnership with Henry Doorly Zoo CARMABI Mexico
specially-designed, seeding units. Incorporate new Autodesk Autodesk Foundation
self-stabilizing, artificial seeding unit designs into coral
substrates, which are dropped restoration workshops.
onto the reef en masse, to
reduce labor associated with Conduct controlled studies of 2018 Steinhart Aquarium SECORE International Curacao $25,000
restoration. seeding unit performance across Prototypes tested in 4 Columbus Zoo The Nature Conservancy Bahamas
a gradient of environmental locations across region Henry Doorly Zoo CARMABI Mexico
conditions (degraded to healthy UNAM
reefs). Monitor survival of corals 2019-2021 Perry Institute of Marine Science
and movement of seeding units Testing continues
after deployment. Apply
learnings to design and 2018-2021
production of next generation Annual monitoring
coral seeding units.
2019-2021
New designs informed by
prior experiments
Work with SECORE scientists 2021 Henry Doorly Zoo SECORE International Curacao $10,000
and aquarium personnel to Manual written Steinhart Aquarium Bahamas
develop a husbandry manual Disney’s The Seas Mexico
describing sexual approach to Columbus Zoo Dominican
coral reef restoration. Shedd Aquarium Republic
US Virgin Islands
2b: Conduct necessary field and 2018 Mote Marine Lab The Nature Conservancy Florida $50,000
Microfragmentation: laboratory studies that optimize Quantify accelerated Florida Fish and Wildlife
Optimize and employ microfragmentation methods to growth rates of Conservation
micro-fragmentation maximize growth and survival of microfragmentation Jacksonville University
techniques to accelerate corals. compared with large sized University of Miami
production of corals for fragments Smithsonian Institute
restoration.
2019
Determine most efficient
array configuration for
large colony fusion
2020
Identify methods toincrease survival rates and
reduce mortality of
microfragments after
outplanting
2021
Determine sexual viability
of fused microfragment
arrays
Develop methods to utilize both 2018 Mote Marine Lab Florida $25,000
land-based and in situ nurseries Develop methods for
for grow-out of microfragmented optimizing growth within
corals prior to outplanting. land-based nurseries after
microfragmentation
2019
Pilot methods for
transitioning land-reared
microfragments into field
nursery for grow-out to
further upscale production
2020
Identify best structures and
methods for
microfragmentation and
grow-out within in-situ
nurseries
2021
Couple land-based and
field-based nursery to
maximize potential
Generate thousands of 2018 > 1,000 outplants Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium Florida $50,000
microfragmented corals to 2019 > 1,500 outplants Acropora Recovery Implement.
increase restoration efforts of 2020 > 2,000 outplants Team
Acropora species 2021 > 2,500 outplants Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
2c: Successfully induce Acropora to 2018 Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Foundation Florida $100,000
Develop and improve complete a full gametogenic Spawning aquariums Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium California
technology to facilitate ex-situ cycle and spawn in closed constructed at Steinhart Steinhart Aquarium Acropora Recovery Implement. London
lab-induced spawning systems using artificial seasonal Aquarium and FLAQ Team
events cues. Center for Conservation. Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
Aquarists trained in NOAA Florida Keys National Marinetechniques by Horniman Sanctuary
Museum and Gardens. University of Florida
Horniman Museum and Gardens
2019 Nova Southeastern University
Successful induced
spawning of other species
at Cal Academy and
FLAQ. Expand land based
spawning facilities at
FLAQ and Mote Marine
Lab. Formation of
Land-based Spawning
working group in CRC.
2020-2021
Incorporate Atlantic
Acropora into land-based
spawning and expand use
in new locations.
2d. Outplant Acropora corals from in 2018 Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Foundation $300,000
Outplant thousands of situ and ex-situ coral nurseries Outplant >10,000 corals Florida Aquarium The Nature Conservancy
corals from in-situ and ex-situ onto degraded reefs for Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
nurseries each year, restoration. 2019 University of Miami
optimizing outplant Outplant >10,000 corals Nova Southeastern University
techniques and increasing University of the Virgin Islands
genetic diversity of in-situ 2020
nursery stock Outplant >12,000 corals
2021
Outplant >12,000 corals
2e. Consistently obtain > 30% 2018 Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Foundation Florida $50,000
Improve techniques to settlement and > 30% >30% settlement, >30% Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium
maximize settlement, post-settlement survival for survival Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
survival and growth of Atlantic Acropora larvae reared Nova Southeastern University
sexual recruits reared ex-situ. 2019-2021 University of Florida
ex-situ to provide new >30% settlement, >30%
genotypes for existing survival
restoration programs.
Generate thousands of 2018 > 1000 genetically Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Foundation Florida $50,000
genetically diverse recruits and distinct recruits Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium
provide new genotypes to Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
existing restoration programs for 2019-2021 > 3000 Nova Southeastern University
further culture, fragmentation and genetically distinct corals University of Florida
outplanting. per year.Strategic Objective 3: Increase in situ and ex situ nursery capacity for banking valuable genetic material.
Action Metrics Timeframe AZA members Field Partners Location(s) Annual
Budget
3a: Increase capacity of land-based 2018 Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Foundation Florida $500,000
Create a network of “arks” of live corals by 50%; Florida Aquarium, Mote Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium
land-based living gene Increase locations to include Marine Lab Others TBD Acropora Recovery Implement.
banks to aid in the sites outside of Florida. Two to Team
preservation of genets from three “Hub” facilities will focus on 2019 Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
areas of high risk for local production of corals for Increase capacity in University of Miami
extinction outplanting; “spoke” facilities will Florida, including Nova Southeastern University
serve as gene-banks and additional Florida AZA NOAA National Marine Fisheries
locations for research institutions Service
partnerships. Begin work outside Florida
2020-2021
Continue to increase
capacity in Florida.
Establish 2-4 large scale
facilities outside of Florida.
3b: Identify 5 potential new 2018 Mote Marine Lab The Nature Conservancy Florida $50,000
Using the list of existing coral locations for nurseries geared Assist partners in planning Boy Scouts of America US Virgin Islands
nurseries, work with field towards coral restoration. nursery site development Coral Restoration Foundation
partners to increase in-situ and infrastructure Coral Restoration Consortium
nursery capacity that can Acropora Recovery Implement.
hold large numbers of 2019 Team
genetically diverse coral Add 1 nursery to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
populations. network Reef Relief
2020
Add 2 nurseries to the
network
2021
Add 2 nurseries to the
network
3c: Updated protocols and 2019 Florida Aquarium Coral Restoration Foundation Florida $5,000
Partner with regulatory processes formalized and Florida policies and Mote Marine Lab Coral Restoration Consortium
agencies (e.g. NOAA, FWC) accepted by Florida Fish and protocols are being Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
to review and update Wildlife Conservation reviewed as part of Florida
protocols and processes Commission. Reef Tract Rescue Project
for corals to be released
from land based facilities into
reefs for restoration purposes.Strategic Objective 4: Expand partnerships with non-traditional collaborators, leveraging expertise from industrial design and engineering firms to support restoration.
Action Metrics Timeframe AZA members Field Partners Location(s) Annual
Budget
4a: Partnerships developed, funding 2018 Steinhart Aquarium SECORE International Curacao $50,000
Leverage partnerships with secured; working groups Design development of > 5 Columbus Zoo The Nature Conservancy Mexico
industrial design and convened to discuss designs of new seeding unit Henry Doorly Zoo Autodesk Foundation Bahamas
manufacturing firms to coral restoration “seeding units” proptypes. Design Shedd Aquarium CARMABI
explore new approaches to and floating pools for processing development of new in situ Minnesota Zoo UNAM
gamete collection, large-scale gametes and larvae in situ. floating pools to handle Moody Gardens NOAA
larval culture and settlement, large quantities of gametes Virginia Aquarium Cape Eleuthera Institute
and handling, processing and and larvae Perry Institute for Marine Science
outplanting corals used in
restoration. 2019-2021
Seeding units and floating
pools deployed and tested,
designs reviewed and
iterated.
4b: Partnerships developed, funding 2020 Florida $25,000
Conduct a “hackathon” to secured, hackathon conducted. Planning year (one-time
explore possible paths cost)
beyond current bottlenecks in 2021
restoration, using principles of Hackathon conducted
industrial engineering and
design.
Strategic Objective 5: Increase capacity for scientific research on topics supporting restoration (including cryopreservation and interventions that increase resilience) through expanded
partnerships with universities and other research institutions, and integration of AZA members into existing conservation networks.
Action Metrics Timeframe AZA members Field Partners Location(s) Annual
Budget
5a: Leverage the land-based coral 2018 Steinhart Aquarium Stanford University California $50,000
Form > 5 research spawning laboratory at the Build coral spawning lab, Hopkins Marine Lab Curacao
partnerships between AZA California Academy of Sciences develop research University of San Francisco
member institutions and to support research partnerships partnerships. SECORE International
scientists studying projects with leading coral scientists in
directly supporting restoration the SF Bay Area academic 2019
or fundamental aspects of community. Scientific studies:
corals’ early life history. settlement preferences,
post-settlement survival,
symbiosis dynamics.
2020-2021
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