Readers, you’re in for a treat. As the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) embarks on our next big chapter of ambitious growth, we are beyond excited to introduce a brand new role to our organization. This new director sits on the executive leadership team and is hyperfocused on strategic impact. Simply put, we’re doubling down for coral reefs.
Meet Kristin Sherwood!
Kristin is joining CORAL at a pivotal time, and her expertise will help us scale our efforts and our impact in a big way. Read more about her below and see why our team is thrilled to bring her on board.
Q&A
Welcome to CORAL! Tell us a little about yourself.
Thank you for the warm welcome! I am thrilled to be joining CORAL, and I’m really looking forward to digging in and learning the ropes. I began my career working with coral reefs in Belize, Hawai’i, and Palau, and this position with CORAL feels like it’s bringing me full circle.
It’s a true joy to reconnect with the places, people, and issues that have shaped me both personally and professionally. I feel a deep connection to reefs and a strong sense of responsibility to contribute my energy and experience towards improving their health.
Saltwater runs through my veins, even after a decade of living in Colorado! I seize every opportunity to swim, snorkel, and dive. Last month, before starting at CORAL, I hiked the Fisherman’s Trail in Portugal, where I reveled in the Atlantic’s giant waves and took every chance to dip my feet in the ocean. It was the perfect reset before joining this incredible team.
What inspired you to pursue a career in ocean conservation, particularly focusing on coral reefs?
I learned to scuba dive in a freezing-cold rock quarry in Virginia when I was sixteen. That experience could have put me off forever, but instead, it put me on a perpetual quest for better diving and more compelling underwater environments! My first open water dives were in a somewhat terrifying cave system in Florida (our planned trip to the Florida Keys was thwarted by Hurricane Andrew). It’s kind of remarkable that I emerged both alive and still passionate about marine science.
I began my undergraduate biology degree in Virginia, initially thinking I could satisfy my underwater interests with streams and lakes. But after two years, the call of tropical waters and reefs proved irresistible. I transferred to the University of Hawai’i, where I lived and worked at the Hawai’i Institute for Marine Biology on Coconut Island (I ran the boat shuttle in exchange for housing!) From there, my journey took me deeper into the Pacific: the Central Visayas, Philippines, supporting a reef monitoring program, and later in Micronesia, contributing to the development of a network of Marine Protected Areas in Palau. Eventually, I enrolled in a Master’s program at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia, and solidified my lifelong path in coral reefs, fisheries, and sustainability.
As the new Strategic Impact Director, what are your big priorities?
I am really passionate about partnerships, and I know CORAL is too. The idea of NGOs collaborating with a diverse range of actors, from community organizations to fishing companies and universities to global multilateral organizations, resonates deeply with me. I firmly believe the impacts of conservation efforts are more durable when the full range of stakeholders are involved, particularly those with a long-term interest in the resources. I am excited to learn more about CORAL’s current collaborations and contribute to expanding these partnerships into new relationships that increase our reach and impact.
Tell us about where you live and how that helps fuel your passion for the ocean.
In 2022, my family and I moved from Colorado to Girona, Spain, seeking a new cultural experience and a closer connection to salt water. We’re fortunate to live just 30 minutes from the Mediterranean coast, and we go to the beach year-round. Even in winter, the mild weather and quiet coasts are great for paddleboarding and long walks on coastal trails. I also love the summers here, and spend a lot of time swimming and snorkeling. Although there are no coral reefs in the Mediterranean, spotting octopuses and the occasional cuttlefish underwater is always a thrill.
Walking through the fish markets in Spain can make it seem like fish are prolific, but the truth is that the Mediterranean is an incredibly threatened ecosystem. Despite the apparent abundance, 93% of assessed fish stocks in the Mediterranean are threatened by overfishing. I love where I live, but it is a constant reminder that the unsustainable demand for seafood and largely ineffective fisheries management is the reality here and in so many places around the world. Living here has deepened my personal commitment to supporting sustainable fishing practices through conscious seafood choices as a consumer and also through my professional dedication to advancing improved coastal management globally.
Can you share a memorable moment from your career that highlights the importance of coral reef conservation?
Early in my career, I had the privilege of teaching at Palau Community College and working for the Palau Conservation Society. During our ecology unit, I took my biology class kayaking and snorkeling in Palau’s famous Rock Islands. While doing a headcount, I realized two students were missing. Panicked, I paddled back to find them sharing freshly harvested giant clam sashimi with lime across their kayaks.
Initially flabbergasted, I began lecturing the students about the species’ vulnerability and overharvesting issues. However, I quickly stopped, recognizing the island’s deep-rooted traditions and sustainable seafood practices. This experience, both terrifying and enlightening, taught me that conservation has to strike a delicate balance between honoring cultural identity and history while protecting critical species.
This incident in Palau’s stunning coral reefs highlighted for me the complex interplay between traditional practices and modern conservation efforts. It underscored the importance of understanding local contexts when developing sustainable approaches to resource management and environmental protection – a lesson I have carried with me ever since.
From your perspective, how do healthy coral reefs contribute to the well-being of people and our planet? And why is it so important to invest in the future of reefs?
For the last decade, I worked on supporting sustainable fisheries globally, an experience that has honed my perspective on the critical importance of fisheries to food security and economic opportunities to people around the world. Coral reefs are a critical part of that equation – healthy reefs ensure sustainable fisheries, which are essential for both local communities and global food security.
Reef-associated fisheries contribute approximately $6.7 trillion annually to the global economy through various sectors, including fisheries and tourism. For many coastal communities, fishing is not just an economic activity but also a cornerstone of cultural identity, as illustrated by the Palau sashimi incident I shared earlier.
But 75% of coral reef fisheries are currently being fished at unsustainable levels.
This overexploitation, combined with climate change, pollution, and coastal development, puts immense pressure on these delicate ecosystems. CORAL is investing in all of these issues in a way that is already shifting the needle in a positive direction, and I’m excited to be a part of the team.
Anything else?
One of my goals this year is to experiment with freediving. Last year, my family and I visited the Red Sea, where freediving is incredibly popular. It was awe-inspiring to watch divers with their long fins and sleek skinsuits descend into the depths in a single breath, observing the reefs in complete tranquility. The experience looked exhilarating, liberating, and scary all at the same time, and I’m now keen to try it myself!
Welcome Kristin!
