Coral Restoration in Curacao with Reef Renewal Curacao (2024)

Reef Renewal Curaçao (formerly known as Coral Restoration Foundation Curaçao) is a non-profit organization dedicated to to enhancing populations of threatened coral species across Curaçao and educating the public on the importance of the oceans.

The main objectives of this program are the restoration of our shallow water reef system, educating the community and protecting and preserving Curaçao’s natural ecosystems.

Reef Renewal Curacao envisions a future where the shallow water reef systems around Curaçao are no longer threatened and ocean stewardship and protecting our coral reefs is at the heart of Curaçao’s culture.

All aspects of our beautiful Dutch Caribbean island depend on coral reefs, from coastal protection and food on our table to revenue from tourism. The existence of coral reefs is intertwined into much of the infrastructure and revenue on the island. However, these coral reefs are threatened by human impacts and reef restoration is only part of the solution.

For Reef Renewal Curacao to effectively build back and restore the shallow water reef systems of Curaçao, we need the support of a variety of private stakeholders and the support of the Curaçao government.

We need to take the importance of coral reefs out of the water and make it something that is valued by the whole community of Curaçao.

Our restoration work starts by hanging fragments of Staghorn and Elkhorn corals on coral trees and letting them grow.

Growing corals in this way is much faster than in the wild. The corals are suspended in the middle of the water column with a constant stream of nutrients passing by and closer to the sunlight. Both of these factors means the corals are in optimum conditions to grow.

A collection of these coral trees (any from 4 – 10) make up what we call a coral nursery. We have 8 nurseries around the island of Curacao, made up of a total of 55 trees.

Across the island of Curacao, Reef Renewal Curacao has active Staghorn nurseries located at Avila Beach Hotel, Baoase Luxury Resort, Kontiki Beach Resort, Marie Pampoen, LionsDive Beach Resort at Mambo Beach, and Eel Valley.After 6-9 months, the corals will have reached the right size to be outplanted.

Outplanting is the process of attaching the corals back to the reef, where they will be able to continue growing to sexual maturity and then start reproducing.

We use different outplanting techniques for our Staghorn and Elkhorn coral, but each technique ensures the fragment is completely secure to the sea bed floor. This becomes the corals final home, where they can grow and provide a valuable habitat for many Caribbean reef fish.

Outplanting across the island.

Our outplants can be seen all over the island, including LionsDive Beach Resort at Mambo Beach, Director’s Bay, Sweet Bottom, Tugboat, Marie Pompoen, Baoase Luxury Resort and the Avila Beach Hotel.

Are you looking for a Custom Dive Package?

If you are thinking or planning your next Caribbean diving vacation then keep exploring the many options and packages that are available – especially our Sleep and Dive Packages with LionsDive Beach Resort and Sunscape Curacao Resort!