Restoring Coral Reefs in Antigua 

Restoring coral reefs in Antigua has officially kicked off. In Antigua and Barbuda, the initiative coral reef restoration project OceanShot has started the first of its kind new coral "modules" off the island of Antigua.  

The project is a featured program of the Global Citizen Forum and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. The ongoing project will continue combining built structures and living coral. When submerged, the two function as natural reefs to combat storm surges and erosion, thus providing a habitat for hundreds of species. And that is good news! 

The Plan for Restoring Dead Coral 

OceanShot is restoring the part of the ocean that is critical to human survival today and for future generations. "Without healthy oceans, there is no use," stated marine biologist Dr. Debora Brosnan. "This isn't just a science project; this is a full-scale solution that might be the answer to saving small island nations." 

OceanShot claims they know how to build, design, and locate reefs for maximum benefit to the coast and to revive fisheries and local communities' blue economies. The group says that the plan arose after over half of the world's reefs had already been destroyed. In fact, more and more coral is lost each day than what can be restored in a decade.  

The Team of Experts 

For OceanShot, Brosnan brought together a team of sea level experts, coral reef biologists, local stakeholders, and coastline engineers. This team of professionals collaborated on a year-long study of the Antiguan ecosystem.  

There, modelers helped design reef modules that would help keep the beaches full of sand while providing a living laboratory to advance reef solutions further.  

The Goal for Our Reefs 

"The island nation of Antigua and Barbuda proudly pledged its full support to OceanShot from the outset," reports Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Browne is one of the leading experts tackling climate change in Caribbean Island Nations. "We are the first country on which the project's scalable solutions have been deployed." 

Prioritizing ocean resilience and a blue economy for our citizens are among the most critical up-and-coming developments on the islands of Antigua and Barbuda. Clearly, it's part of a growing trend of coral restoration in the Caribbean, with more and more islands looking to restore and replant coral to help safeguard their precious ecosystems.

CITED: www.emcantigua.org, www.caribbeantoday.com, www.globalcitizenforum.org