I. Executive Summary 

Coral restoration holds significant relevance for Puerto Rico, with its implications extending to all  residents of the island. Puerto Rico's reef fisheries are an economic and food resource, and coral  reef-derived tourism generates nearly $2 billion in income and regional domestic product. There are  broad social, environmental, and financial benefits of healthy coral reefs for Puerto Rico. Given that  more than half of the world's reefs are already in decline, the urgency for heightened awareness and education, coupled with immediate human intervention, cannot be overstated. The Coral Nursery is fully  prepared to address these challenges head-on. Coral conservation and restoration should be addressed  with a holistic approach, which will involve proactive actions to protect reefs against threats and reactive  actions that help assist degraded reefs. The Coral Nursery is a non-profit organization that will use  cutting-edge scientific technology and the UNEP Guidelines to conserve and restore the coral reefs in  Puerto Rico.

 

A. Overview of the Non-profit: 

The Coral Nursery of Puerto Rico is committed to the restoration and conservation of coral reefs  in the region, employing both proactive and reactive strategies as outlined by the United  Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) guidelines. Our efforts extend to community  education, targeting K12 children and college students to raise awareness about the importance  of coral reefs. Through initiatives such as beach clean-ups, we empower the community to  support our cause and combat plastic and chemical pollution that are detrimental to coral reefs. 

Utilizing state-of-the-art technology and adhering to the best scientific practices, we will actively  engage in restoring depleted reefs across Puerto Rico. At the heart of our approach is the  acquisition of the coral restoration unit (CRU), a groundbreaking innovation designed to function as a turnkey land-based coral nursery and laboratory. Developed by renowned marine  biologist Dr. David Vaughan and produced by the Plant a Million Coral Foundation, the CRU  employs pioneering micro-fragmentation technology to accelerate coral growth by up to 40 times compared to traditional field-based nurseries. 

This technology, ideally suited to land-based nurseries, provides optimal conditions for the  growth of various coral species, including ecologically important ones like Brain, Boulder, or  Mounding Corals. Moreover, continuous monitoring of water temperature, salinity, alkalinity,  and overall coral health ensures precise control over environmental conditions. By optimizing  lighting and water chemistry, our coral scientists can cultivate resilient coral species capable of  thriving in changing climates at an accelerated rate. This ensures that The Coral Nursery delivers  coral fragments with the highest chances of survival for outplanting, thus contributing  significantly to the restoration and preservation of Puerto Rico's coral reefs.

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B. Summary of Strategic Goals and Objectives 

1. Proactive Actions 

a. Climate Change Mitigation 

b. Waste and Water Management 

c. Erosion Control 

2. Reactive Actions 

a. Grow Resilient Coral Fragments for Outplanting 

b. Beach Clean-ups 

C. Key Strategies for Achieving Goals 

1. Climate Change Mitigation 

a. Education and Outreach at local K-12 schools (program) 

b. Education and Outreach in the local community (program and ecotourism  workshops at The Coral Nursery) 

c. Working with partner organizations to raise awareness of climate  change's effects on the ocean and coral reefs. 

2. Waste and Water Management 

a. Education and Outreach at local K-12 schools (program) 

b. Education and Outreach in the local community (program and ecotourism  workshops at The Coral Nursery) 

c. Working with partner organizations to raise awareness of climate change's effects on the ocean and coral reefs. 

d. Part of the Bleach Clean-up activities will be proactive education on  eliminating single-use plastics, microplastics, harmful chemicals, and the  impact to coral reefs. 

3. Erosion control 

a. Education and Outreach. Coral Reefs are a key factor to control our coastlines health. Educate the community on those facts. 

b. Outplanting corals from our CRU. 

4. Grow Coral Fragments in the Coral Restoration Unit {CRU) for Outplanting to  Local Reefs 

a. Using permitted "Fragments of Opportunity" gather resilient corals from  local reefs. 

b. Grow coral in the CRU and assist in scaling resilient coral fragments for  outplanting. 

c. Educate and Outreach (hands on workshops on micro fragmentation)  where participants will assist with reproduction and growing corals.

d. Partner with local dive shops, divers and snorkelers, University of  Humacao, University of Puerto Rico, other non-profits, and local schools to outplant corals (Permitted outplanting using UNEP Guidelines and scientific data to ensure best practices) 

5. Beach Clean-ups 

a. Beach Clean-ups are an integral part of removing existing waste and is an  opportunity to educate and involve our community in coral restoration efforts. 

b. The Coral Nursery has multiple local beach clean-ups, this effort can be  expanded to the whole island. 

D. Summary of Key Performance Indicators (KPls) 

1. Goal: (Proactive) To reduce pollution, including plastic and chemical waste at the source  through our education and outreach events (at least three per year). 

2. Goal: (Proactive) Educate students and the community through at least three outreach  events per year about the effects of climate change on coral reefs and empower them  with tools to understand how they can reduce carbon emissions in their daily lives. 

3. Goal: (Reactive) Grow at least 10,000 coral fragments per year from permitted and  locally collected "fragments of opportunity." 

4. Goal: Coral Reefs that are out planted with our fragments will show at least a 10%  improvement over the baseline measurement of coral cover, with a long-term goal being  healthy reef coverage of 20%. 

5. Goal: Provide an ecotourism opportunity for the local community that provides jobs that  teach new skills (micro fragmentation and coral farming) for at least two people and two  internship positions from local universities. 

 

II. Organizational Analysis 

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A. Mission Statement: 

"At The Coral Nursery, our mission is to restore and conserve coral reefs. By harnessing  cutting-edge methodologies, educating the community, and fostering partnerships, we strive  to revive coral ecosystems, safeguard marine biodiversity, and inspire stewardship of our  oceans for generations to come."​

B. Vision Statement: 

"Our vision at The Coral Nursery is to create thriving and resilient coral reefs along the  coastlines of Puerto Rico, serving as vibrant hubs of marine life and ecological resilience.  Through our dedication to best practices in coral restoration, education, and outreach, we aim  to cultivate a society of citizen scientists deeply connected to and committed to the  preservation of our precious underwater ecosystems, ensuring a sustainable future for our  planet." 

C. Core Values: 

Using UNEP guidelines and scientific best practices for coral conservation and restoration to  guide our work. 

E. Stakeholder Analysis (donors, volunteers, beneficiaries, community) 

1. Student K-12 at local schools 

2. University Students 

3. Local Business Community 

4. Donors 

5. Volunteers for beach clean-ups and environmentally conscious people 6. Divers and Snorkelers 

7. Ecotourists 

8. Other non-profits and environmental organizations 

9. Local government and Federal Government (EPA, FEMA, NOAA)  

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Ill. Environmental Analysis 

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A. Community Needs Assessment: 

The commonwealth of Puerto Rico is part of a volcanic island platform that includes  Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Currently there are 40 Marine Protected Areas  (MPAs) established in the commonwealth (Fig. 1) The reefs specifically around the area  of Humacao and Naguabo are in critical condition, however the reefs around Puerto Rico  and neighboring islands all need restoration. Large coral restoration projects in Puerto  Rico have been recently funded by NOAA and FEMA. Not only will the coral grown by  The Coral Nursery help restore the marine-biodiversity and the overall health of our  ocean but will largely help reduce storm surge and protect our communities. The Coral  Nursery will not only provide needed resilient coral fragments for outplanting but will  also focus on providing education to the local community to help them understand how  their actions impact local reefs. This knowledge will empower the community to make  changes that will help them conserve and protect the reefs.

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Puerto Rico Coral Reef Habitat Assessment

B. Non-profit Landscape Analysis 

1) Similar Organizations 

a) Plant A Million Corals Foundation (Florida) 

2) Collaborative Opportunities 

a) Restoration Activities - Design & Tech Partnership

b) Educational Opportunities 

C. Regulatory Analysis (compliance, legal requirements) 

1. Code of Land Approval 

2. Environmental Impact' Assessment (OGPE) 

3. Construction of site 

4. Salt Water Well Construction (Applicable at ocean front locations) 

5. Discharge 

6. Coral Collection (Corals of Opportunity) 

a. Renew Annually

 

IV. Strategic Goals and Objectives ​

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A. Long-Term Goals (3-5 years:)

To produce 10,000 corals for outplanting annually, and to  educate over 1000 citizens of Puerto Rico about ways they can conserve and restore their coral  reefs through education (workshops, tours, classroom visits, field trips) empowering them to  make informed decisions that positively benefit the coral reefs. 

B. Short-Term Objectives (1 year:)

Within the next year bring the coral restoration unit (CRU) to  Puerto Rico, have the CRU operational, growing its first corals, and doors open to the public. Continue hosting community oureach events. 

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V. Strategic Initiatives ​

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A. Program Development and Enhancement 

1. K12 Educational Outreach into the classrooms 

2. University internships and partnerships 

3. Other non-profits 

B. Fundraising and Resource Development (Marissa Myer and Lori Devine) 

1. Donations 

2. Coral Sponsorships 

3. Fees collected for workshops 

4. Fees collected for ecotours of the facility (when operational) 

5. Grants 

6. Sponsorships and Partnerships with local businesses 

C.Volunteer Recruitment and Management (Marissa Myer) 

D. Community Engagement and Outreach (Marissa Myer) 

1. School visitations 

2. Annual Beach clean-ups 

E. Capacity Building and Sustainability (Lori Devine, MPS) 

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VI. Resource Allocation ​

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A. Budget Allocation (Upon Request - Or reference our profile on GuideStar - Bronze Status)

B. Staffing and Volunteer Needs 

1. Currently one FT Executive Director and one PT Business Development. C. Volunteer Board of Directors 

2. Will need One FT Coral Specialist and two Coral Technicians from the local University marine biology department as part of the internship program

C. Technology and Infrastructure Requirements 

1. The Coral Restoration Unit (CRU) has been purchased and is ready for delivery.

2. The Coral Nursery is currently negotiating with several locations to secure permits and a lease. 

3. Salt-water well will need to be drilled. (Applicable at oceanfront location)

4. The 20 ft units require less than a week to set up and become operational once the units  have been delivered onsite to a location with access to the ocean or a saltwater well.  The CRU and all the equipment necessary to set up the nursery are packaged and  shipped in an intermodal shipping container which then houses the filtration equipment  and saltwater pumps for the nursery and can be used as an onsite lab. The equipment is  powered by solar energy, making it a sustainable option for growing coral in remote  locations worldwide. Each 20 ft CRU supports 6 saltwater tanks for growing coral and the  coral micro fragmentation process can produce 10,000 corals for out planting each year.  Technical feasibility has been established and the only limitations would be ensuring the  proper site selection and ensuring all local permitting is obtained. 

D. Partnerships and Collaborations: The Coral Nursery has contacted the following  organizations: 

a) Plant A Million Corals Current sponsor, lead marine biologist behind the project - Dr. Vaughan 

b) Palmas Academy - Science program l<-12 

c) University of Humacao (Paid Internships through Marine Biology Program) Partnership to be solidified with MOU

d) Graceland University Business Club Program - Enactus 

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IX. Communication Plan 

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A. Internal Communication Strategy (staff, board, volunteers) 

1. Daily email communication 

2. Trello Project Management Board 

B. External Communication Strategy (donors, partners, community) 

1. Monthly Newsletter to subscribers

2. Email for special events and outreach (Online & outreach in person)

C. Social Media and Online Presence 

1. Website - www.coralnursery.org

2. Social Media posts (Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn)

E. Branding and Messaging 

a. Update on the CRU and information on the new location(s) 

b. Information about the health of coral reefs worldwide 

c. Educational information that includes how stakeholders can help be proactive and help coral reefs through actions such as wearing reef-safe sunscreens,  eliminating single-use plastics