Key facts

• Only One members are funding the restoration of 10,000 corals along the shores of 11 islands and archipelagos throughout The Bahamas.

• This project expands the vast Reef Rescue Network, now 51 nurseries strong, and boosts the largest coral cultivation effort in the country as well as the biggest restoration coalition in the Caribbean.

• Using cutting-edge monitoring and analytical methods, marine scientists survey the waters of The Bahamas to create precise maps of reef health, track coral disease, and enhance the scale, survival, and genetic diversity of nursery-grown corals.

• Our coral restoration partner, the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS), runs a dynamic reef revitalization program that blends diverse stakeholder partnerships, community marine stewardship, and scientific techniques, all together informing site-specific rehabilitation.

How the project works

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Meticulous mapping through field surveys, aerial drones, and underwater photography enables researchers to create detailed 3D scans of reefs across the Caribbean. These models are essential for assessing coral health and pinpointing key areas for restoration.

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Reef technicians harvest donor coral fragments from nearby colonies either by carefully cutting them — similar to plant propagation in land gardens — or by collecting naturally broken pieces from the seafloor.  

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The fragments, some as small as five centimeters, are taken to ocean nurseries where they develop in calmer waters, protected from predators and harsh wave action. Over the course of about a year, divers regularly monitor and maintain the fragments, removing harmful algae and making necessary structural repairs. Nursery structures come in various shapes: some are metal domes embedded in the sand, while others look like clotheslines set perpendicular to the current to prevent tangling. Most nurseries use a tree-like design with branching PVC structures that fittingly look like TV antennas — reflecting the Caribbean-wide network of coral connectivity they aim to create.

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Once the nursery-grown fragments reach a sufficient size, often over 15 centimeters wide, local volunteers and scientists transplant them from the tree-like buoys onto damaged reefs. They anchor them to the surface with epoxy, which the coral then covers as it develops over the next three months. Over time, the transplanted corals grow, adding structure to the reef, which provides new habitat for marine life and contributes to the restoration of healthy, thriving reef ecosystems.

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Dedicated monitors use sophisticated mapping tools to assess the health of newly restored reefs. Scientists follow a lawnmower-like pattern, sweeping back and forth over coral patches to capture thousands of images. Advanced software then stitches these photos together like squares on a quilt, creating high-resolution “photomosaics” of the reefs. 

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All the while, PIMS trains student divers, eco-conscious tourists, and local vendors to participate in restoration activities and conservation education. By prioritizing and encouraging community involvement, PIMS recognizes that sustainable marine stewardship depends on ocean literacy — turning awareness into a lasting passion for protecting the vibrant, fragile coastal ecosystems of The Bahamas and beyond.

Project impact

All projects on Only One help save the ocean and the planet, with 100% of our members’ funds going directly to impact. Keep reading to learn how our project, “Connecting coral reefs and communities across The Bahamas,” is making a positive difference.

Biodiversity and ecosystems

The Bahamas is an archipelago of more than 700 low-lying islands in an exceptionally biodiverse part of the Atlantic Ocean. Its landmass makes up less than 5% of the country’s total territory, with the ocean covering the other 95%. Coral reefs dot the coastline, forming the ecological backbone of The Bahamas.

PIMS’ project spans the Bahamian coast and includes nine islands — Bimini, Grand Bahama, Abaco, New Providence, Andros, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Long Island, and San Salvador — as well as the Exuma and Berry island chains. The Andros Barrier Reef alone is one of the largest living structures on the planet, home to hundreds of fish species.

Yet today, even these thriving ecosystems are at risk from numerous ecological threats. Illegal or unsustainable fishing can decimate crucial fish populations — with the parrotfish being a particularly worrying example. Abundant throughout the world's reefs, these kaleidoscopic wrasses play a key role in maintaining coral health. Since a mass die-off of sea urchins nearly 40 years ago, parrotfish have been the primary custodians of Caribbean reefs, controlling algae and preventing seagrasses from smothering potential substrates, the surfaces upon which coral larvae settle and grow.

By saving reefs across the Caribbean, PIMS is rejuvenating ecosystems and securing the ongoing health of the region’s rich biodiversity for future generations.

Climate change

As the planet warms, hurricanes like Dorian, which made landfall in 2019 as the strongest tropical storm on record to hit The Bahamas, are increasing in frequency. Hurricane Dorian alone devastated an estimated 30% of The Bahamas’ already impaired coral reefs. Independent of the storm risk, warming gives rise to the most immediate threat to coral reefs: rising ocean temperatures and acidity, which lead to mass bleaching events.

Warming temperatures also worsen Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, a deadly illness affecting dozens of coral species in the Caribbean. As climate change disrupts ecological balances around the globe, corals are becoming more susceptible to diseases.

For these reasons and more, PIMS is taking extra care to cultivate genetically diverse coral species that are more resilient to climate change, across a range of restoration locations and thermal conditions.

Endangered species

Among PIMS’ coral planting sites, the first restoration target for 2024 is located just southeast of the Andros Barrier Reef, in a shallow-water area frequented by visitors like the Caribbean reef shark — an endangered apex predator that can reach up to three meters in length and is adapted to pump oxygen through its gills even while stationary. Unlike most elasmobranchs, the class of fishes including sharks and rays that must keep swimming to breathe, these sharks can be seen resting motionless on the seafloor.

Sea turtles are also no strangers to the refuge of Bahamian reefs, where they find ample shelter and foraging opportunities among the complex coral formations. In return, these marine reptiles help manage competition by grazing on algae and sea sponge overgrowths. By clearing this coveted real estate, green turtles and smaller loggerheads inadvertently create space for coral larvae to settle and thrive.

Healthy reefs mean healthy ecosystems — and healthy ecosystems mean more abundant habitats that support the incredible biodiversity of The Bahamas. So, every coral PIMS plants is a step forward in protecting the more than 20 endangered species found in the surrounding Caribbean.

Community development

The support of Only One members helps PIMS advance reef revitalization in various ways, including by leveraging The Bahamas’ booming blue economy. Coral reefs contribute over $2.6 billion annually to the country’s GDP and attract more than two million tourists who come to snorkel and dive — so the Reef Rescue Network is partnering with 29 dive shops to integrate coral restoration into the thriving ecotourism industry. These partnerships offer hands-on activities that educate participants as restoration progresses, with customized programs designed to fit the specific goals and needs of each dive shop and location.

In addition to bolstering the livelihoods of dive shop partners, the project runs several training programs focused on environmental stewardship, scuba diving, and reef restoration. PIMS certifies new PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors — the highest level of dive instructor — throughout the year. These instructors then teach specialized reef restoration courses to their communities. Enhanced training programs cover nursery upkeep, outplanting techniques, data gathering, shark and turtle conservation, and waste management.

As part of this initiative, PIMS’ field schools and internships train Bahamian high school students in diving and coral planting, while monthly hotel events provide tourists with the chance to learn these same skills. PIMS is also dedicated to fostering a more inclusive conservation ecosystem for women in this traditionally male-dominated field. Last year, they hosted an all-female marine entrepreneurship workshop, and in 2023, three-quarters of the staff trained in outplanting and data collection were women.

Project leaders

Coordinating a restoration effort of this scale requires a dedicated team of marine scientists and project managers. Among those leading PIMS on this journey are:

• Hayley-Jo Carr, Director of the Reef Rescue Network and author of the PADI Reef Rescue Diver course, who manages large-scale volunteer mobilization and training throughout the Caribbean.

• Dr. Valeria Pizarro, Senior Scientist, who began her coral research in Colombia studying the population dynamics of brain coral and now focuses on understanding and preventing stony coral tissue loss disease (SLTLD).

• Dr. Craig Dahlgren, Executive Director, who researches coastal ecologies and marine protected area (MPA) policy, and advocates for sustainable fisheries management both regionally and internationally.

• Lily Haines, Communications Director, who oversees outreach and media efforts, merging her lifelong interests in storytelling, science communication, and the ocean.

Coral species

The project focuses on three species chosen for their significant restoration potential:

• Staghorn: Critically endangered, these antler-shaped corals are fast-growing (up to 20centimeters per year!) and durable. They provide stable habitat and structure for budding reefs.

• Elkhorn: Also critically endangered, these corals can rapidly form expansive surfaces that span more than 3.5 meters from end to end. Their dense thickets help brace the reef and the broader coastal ecosystem against storm surges.

• Fused staghorn: Smaller than elkhorn, this rare hybrid fluoresces green and boosts the genetic resilience of the reef, helping it better withstand mortality events such as temperature spikes.

Sustainable Development Goals

By supporting the “Connecting coral reefs and communities in The Bahamas” project, funds from Only One members help advance these six United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Project reporting

PIMS will provide progress reports and share field photos and videos as often as possible. An overall impact report will be delivered after planting is completed and the corals supported by Only One members are well into the maintenance phase. Trained scientists and reef technicians will update photomosaic plots annually and conduct reef assessments every three years to monitor project indicators and maximize planting success. Key reef health indicators include:

• Benthic index: Ratio of the area covered by live coral and beneficial organisms to the area covered by detrimental organisms

• Coral condition index: Average ratio of live to dead coral tissue on colonies larger than 25 centimeters

• Coral disease index: Percentage of disease-infected corals

• Coral recruitment index: Percentage of new corals smaller than four centimeters

• Large parrotfish index: Biomass of these important grazers

• Grouper index: Biomass of key predators of coral-harming organisms

You can explore all our project implementation reports on our public Impact Dashboard.

More about our coral restoration partner

Over the past 50+ years, the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) has led ecosystem research, education, and restoration projects throughout the Caribbean, covering areas from fisheries management to mangrove monitoring and reef rehabilitation. Having just reached its goal with months to spare of establishing 50 coral nurseries by the end of the year (now at 51 and counting!), PIMS aims to enhance restoration capacity by training 200 PADI Certified Reef Rescue Divers in The Bahamas, supporting their post-certification success, and engaging an additional 200 students in various educational experiences. By fostering and inspiring a growing network of coral restoration partners, PIMS is improving the genetic diversity of reefs, establishing self-sustaining coral populations, and enhancing coastal resilience against climate change, disease, and other threats, ultimately contributing to the health of our planet’s precious marine ecosystems.

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