For over 30 years, the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has been at the forefront of coral reef conservation. What began as a small group of SCUBA divers passionate about protecting these ecosystems has grown into a global alliance, dedicated to saving coral reefs through innovative partnerships, global conservation science, and community-driven action. Our mission centers around the holistic approach that assesses, protects, and restores coral reefs, allowing them to adapt to the threats of climate change.
Guided by NOAA’s definition of coral reef restoration as the “process of assisting the recovery of coral reefs that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed,” our restore efforts focus on nurturing ecosystems back to health and resilience by reducing threats. This means our team works threats to coral ecosystems by improving water quality and promoting sustainable fishing practices, while also supporting community-led, climate-smart conservation efforts, resulting in long-lasting stewardship of coral reef ecosystems
Why We Restore
Coral reefs are critical to marine biodiversity, support coastal communities, and act as natural barriers against storm surges.
However, they are under severe threat from pollution, unsustainable fishing, and climate change, with predictions that almost all coral reefs could be lost by 2050 if current trends continue. CORAL recognizes that while climate change is a profound challenge, coral reefs can still adapt—if we reduce local pressures.
Through threat reduction in the form of clean water and sustainable fisheries initiatives, we are actively working to restore coral resilience, biodiversity, and community support for long-term reef health.
Clean Water for Reefs
Healthy coral reefs require clean water, but pollution from land-based sources, such as untreated or improperly treated wastewater and sediment runoff, often disrupts this balance.
Polluted water causes stress, disease, and degradation in marine ecosystems, making it harder for corals to survive. CORAL’s Clean Water for Reefs initiative tackles this issue head-on by working with local communities to assess water quality, advocate for laws supporting wastewater and watershed management, and operationalize pollution-control infrastructure.
Our efforts in clean water management include:
Implementing Wastewater Solutions
CORAL collaborates with community partners to build and manage wastewater treatment plants in critical areas, ensuring that sewage is kept out of the ocean.
For example, in West End, Roatan, CORAL’s support of a local wastewater treatment plant has prevented 29 million gallons of sewage from reaching the reefs each year. In Coxen Hole, we’re advancing efforts to expand this capacity and expect to prevent an additional 49 million gallons of wastewater pollution by the end of 2025.
The restoration work happening here is essential for the recovery of our coasts and the survival of marine life. We are enhancing the reef’s ability to withstand climate-related stress. There has been a restoration of the reef because of our wastewater treatment facility as well as a restoration of hope for the community.
Susy Ochoa, Executive Director, Polo’s Water Association
Reducing Sediment Runoff
Sediment runoff from erosion and land development smothers coral reefs, blocking sunlight and hindering coral growth.
Through watershed restoration and fishpond rehabilitation projects, particularly in Hawai’i, we’re preventing large amounts of sediment from reaching reefs and preserving these essential marine habitats. In 2025, we’ll begin assessing how this work in Hawai’i can influence other areas in the Pacific Islands with the same threats.
Community and Legislative Advocacy
Hand-in-hand with our Protect work, CORAL is improving water quality by advocating for strong environmental policies and engaging local communities in stewardship. In Hawai’i, for instance, we introduced legislation to expedite cesspool conversion, a necessary step to reduce sewage pollution and protect both coral reefs and public health.
These initiatives are grounded in actionable science, allowing CORAL to measure progress and make evidence-based adjustments to our strategies. Over time, our Clean Water for Reefs efforts have led to measurable reductions in fecal bacteria levels in coastal waters, improvements in water quality, and decreased harmful macro algae that threaten coral habitats.
Sustainable Fisheries
Overfishing is another major threat to coral reefs, as it disrupts the delicate balance of reef ecosystems. CORAL’s sustainable fisheries programs work to restore fish populations and reef biodiversity by collaborating with local communities to establish protected areas and enforce sustainable fishing practices.
Protected Areas
With community partners, CORAL has established and improved the management of protected areas across marine ecosystems in the Western Caribbean, Fiji, the Coral Triangle (Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines), and Hawai’i. These protected areas serve as safe havens for fish populations, allowing them to grow and contribute to the overall health of the coral reefs.
See Also: What is a Marine Protected Area?
Supporting Local Fisheries
In partnership with coastal communities, CORAL’s fisheries projects aim to enhance fish biomass—by as much as 200% in some regions—thus benefiting both the reef and local livelihoods. Healthier reefs provide a more stable habitat for fish, allowing fishers to harvest higher-quality catches, which helps build a sustainable economy around responsible fishing.
Our most recent sustainable fisheries work includes two fishpond restoration projects on the island of Molokai, Hawai’i. These ancient Hawaiian fishponds, unique to the Pacific Islands, once supported local communities by maintaining abundant and sustainable fish populations.
CORAL has joined forces with community nonprofit Ka Honua Momona in Molokai to restore these ponds, which removes sediment buildup, controls invasive species, and promotes sustainable fishing practices. By reviving these traditional systems, we not only help protect the local reefs from harmful sediment but also honor and support local culture and livelihoods. This work enhances the resilience of reef ecosystems around Molokai and preserves a heritage practice that strengthens both community and ecological health.
Our sustainable fisheries work is essential to restoring balance in reef ecosystems, helping them recover from past pressures and adapt to changing conditions.
Looking Ahead – Building Resilience Together
CORAL’s Restore efforts—centered around threat reduction in the form of clean water and sustainable fisheries—are critical to the health and resilience of coral reefs worldwide.
By addressing pollution and overfishing, we’re creating the conditions that allow coral reefs to adapt and survive in a rapidly changing world. Our commitment to science-based action, community engagement, and policy advocacy continues to yield meaningful results, with cleaner waters, healthier fish populations, and stronger reefs that support both biodiversity and coastal communities.
Through our partnerships with local stakeholders and our dedication to long-term conservation solutions, CORAL is not only working to save coral reefs but also to foster a global community united by a common goal: to protect and restore one of our planet’s most valuable and life-giving ecosystems.
Together, we can ensure that coral reefs—and the communities that depend on them—continue to thrive for generations to come.
