Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire (RRFB) is expanding the network of coral nurseries and restoration sites around Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, thanks to
funding from the Dutch ministry and Bonaire municipal government. After piloting a new nursery design in 2023, the group has established several new nursery sites up and down the west coast, with more planned throughout 2024.
In the initial months of the project, RRFB has already increased its nursery coral capacity by over 20 percent, using corals from genetic strains that have shown resilience toward stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) and bleaching. This is part of a wider strategy to boost the genetic diversity of Bonaire’s coral populations and, in doing so, strengthen the reef.
The installation of vertical ropes, a new type of coral nursery less prone to algae overgrowth, is part of the expansion. RRFB has already installed rope nurseries at Oil Slick Leap, Lighthouse Point, and Angel City, and plans to establish more locations in 2024.
Multiple tray nurseries have also been installed, which will hold 10 species of corals of various genetic strains (aka “genotypes”). RRFB has carefully selected genotypes that have shown the highest performance. They will continue to monitor the health of these corals before and after outplanting to inform selective breeding efforts. As the expansion continues throughout 2024, RRFB’s focus remains steadfast on enhancing the genetic diversity and resilience of Bonaire’s coral reefs.
