Funded by the UK Government
through Darwin Plus
In a collaborative effort, the Living Reefs Foundation (LRF) is advancing coral restoration in Bermuda with technical support from Coral Spawning International (CSI). Funded by the UK Government through Darwin Plus, CSI designed and supplied key culture systems and provided specialist training to support LRF’s work to build the island’s capacity to culture a diverse range of massive coral species. This effort aims to establish a reliable source of young corals for restoring damaged reefs and strengthening natural and artificial breakwaters.
Bermuda’s reefs are vital for biodiversity, coastal protection, and the local economy, but they face mounting threats from climate change, coastal development, and unpredictable natural spawning events. Until now, restoration efforts have been limited by the short, environmentally driven spawning season, which restricts the availability of coral larvae for research and reef recovery.
Together, LRF and CSI have installed a state-of-the-art coral broodstock conditioning system at the LRF hatchery. This innovative system – designed, built, and commissioned by CSI and our partners TMC – enables precise control of seawater temperature, light, and other environmental cues. As a result, LRF can now reliably induce and synchronise spawning of key coral species in a land-based setting, independent of natural cycles.
Coral larvae and juveniles can now be produced on a predictable schedule, dramatically increasing the scale and impact of LRF's restoration activities. The system can condition up to 24 broodstock colonies at a time, and its compact, modular design is tailored to Bermuda’s unique needs.
With the new system operational, we have overcome the limitations of natural spawning windows. The LRF team has already begun conditioning and spawning two massive coral species, with plans to expand to at least four. This work is supplying genetically diverse coral spat for reef restoration and for use in nature-based coastal protection projects.
By enabling reliable, scalable coral propagation, we are providing a model for other islands and territories across the Caribbean and beyond.