Knowledge Center

Over the last 30 years, scientists calculate we have lost 50 percent of the world’s coral reefs to coral bleaching and man-made causes. Worse, without direct action, coral reefs could become extinct inside 80 years. Despite the damage, there is hope. With Oris’s support, by the end of 2020, the Coral Restoration Foundation will have planted more than 35,000 corals on Carysfort Reef. This is just one of a number of sites that the Foundation is restoring. They have already restored more than 8,000 square meters of coral reef in the Florida Keys, returning more than 120,000 corals to this ecosystem.

WHAT IS CORAL RESTORATION FOUNDATION?

CRF is a non-profit and the world’s largest coral reef restoration organisation. We’re headquartered in Key Largo, Florida, and we’re working on reversing the damage done to the Florida Reef Tract. We run programs to restore the reef and to conserve the coral species that once thrived on it.

WHY THE FOCUS ON CARYSFORT?

Carysfort Reef is one of the world’s most iconic coral reefs. It was the epicentre for the early recreational dive industry and a premier fishing destination for US presidents. And it was where the world’s first underwater colour photograph was taken. Carysfort was once the crown jewel of the Florida Keys reef system, but its health has severely degraded since the 1970s. There’s now a critical need for coral restoration to restore Carysfort to a healthy, thriving reef system.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE CORAL REEFS?

For 500 million years, reef ecosystems have persisted in shallow seas around the globe, mostly near tropical shorelines along the equator. They are one of the oldest and most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Although coral reefs cover less than 1 per cent of the Earth’s surface, they are home to 25 per cent of all marine fish species. Coral reefs are a critical part of a healthy ocean and provide essential ecosystem services.