Seascape Caribbean

MoBay people, KEEP EYES PEELED:
Two (2) large coral nursery frames went missing to sabotage or theft this past week from Montego Bay, anchored/set at the Airport Reef dive-site (8m/28’ deep) west of the Sangster International Airport runway. They both disappeared between Wednesday (Sept.3) and yesterday (Sept.9).

Lost in/with these frames is also the corals they held safe:
1) 2500 highly-endangered elkhorn corals, nursery reared & ready-to-plant restoring the Montego Bay Marine Park's 2020 barge-grounding, plus works with UWI.
2) The entire genetic repository of elkhorn, pillar and fire corals for St. James, some of which cannot be replaced.

The frames are 10'x20' rectangles of 1" steel tube/pipe, so very heavy and cumbersome - a boat is required even to surface-tow. They had been in the sea for 18-months and 6-months respectively so the galvanizing is aged, some oysters and stinging-hydroids enough to have made a theft painful. Also sea-smelly once they’re out of the water, particularly if the coral nursery lines and ropes are in place.
The anchor-lines are 1200Lb Spectra/Dyneema cut cleanly, which would take sharp scissors or a razor-blade; cut at 1~2m from the bottom may have required SCUBA. Anchors are still in place, so not a boat anchor or net/pot entanglement.

Fishers and fishing-beaches have been alerted, also the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust, Marine Police, colleagues and watersports friends. If such a heavy steel frame sounds familiar, please message me immediately - we’ll keep anonymous, priority is to salvage the living coral.

Ghost nets—abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing nets—pose a severe threat to marine ecosystems. These near-invisible death traps continue to indiscriminately capture and kill marine life long after they've been abandoned, creating a devastating cycle of "silent fishing." Marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks, and countless fish species become entangled, unable to escape, leading to prolonged suffering and death. Beyond direct wildlife mortality, these nets fragment marine habitats, damage coral reefs, and contribute to microplastic pollution, creating long-term ecological disruption that extends far beyond their initial abandonment

Jamaican, Caribbean, UWI & Seascape Caribbean representation in lexicon/dictionary development for coral restoration:

https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s00338-025-02619-8?sharing_token=Ih9WDD_kAMHZeIzrWaOq__e4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY6rKx0KAqxHk5WJ1l-2Lu4tQJLMTxzAHoQqtX1zTJYCmyAf0jrmfFn6reSDx1HX6lOVbPzUSypKdcGyiA7Yx3PnNYmVsqtYLqwSERDnFpQh8I2P_RoGaWDy2C1SWbA2Rzg%3D

Thanks to collaborators & colleagues, this has been a few years in development.

David Suggett on LinkedIn: A user’s guide to coral reef restoration terminologies - Coral Reefs Calling all reef restoration practitioners, scientists, policy makers, investors - we have finally set a baseline for reef restoration terms and definitions - consistency is central to how activities scale globally with effectiveness and rigor. This has been a major works through the Coral Restorati...

During the winter period, we experience surges and rough seas associated with cold fronts and northerly winds. Under these conditions, our nurseries require extra attention to ensure they're riding the waves and staying securely anchored. Pre- and post-storm checks are necessary to minimize any losses that might occur. Thankfully, our systems have made it through several storms practically untouched, including the ferocity of Hurricane Beryl

Today, the team collected another temperature-tolerant Acropora palmata that will be placed in our nursery systems for later use in our restoration efforts. This colony, identified during extensive surveys following the 2023 mass bleaching event, demonstrated remarkable survival and temperature resilience through continuous
monitoring

Restored reefs aren't just beautiful, they're teeming with life! With 25% of all marine life dependent on coral reefs, these ecosystems are vital! Despite this, they are under serious threat and a future without them is becoming a stark reality. That's why reef restoration is so crucial – we're not just rebuilding coral colonies, we're preserving entire marine communities and the countless species that depend on them. Every nubbin outplanted, every colony restored, brings us one step closer to securing a future where these underwater cities continue to thrive.

New Year, Same Mission! 2025 is already looking bright at Seascape Caribbean as we continue our vital work restoring and preserving Jamaica's precious coral reefs.

Our nurseries are thriving, our outplanting sites are flourishing, and we've got groundbreaking projects on the horizon that will help us scale up our restoration efforts like never before! 🌱🐠

Stay tuned for exciting updates on new restoration sites, innovative techniques, and inspiring community partnerships. Together, we're building a healthier future for our coral reefs.

As we wrap up another amazing year, we're sending warm wishes and heartfelt gratitude to our wonderful community. Happy Holidays from the Seascape Caribbean family!

We were among many innovators who had the opportunity to showcase our invention at the Reef Futures Tools and Innovation Showcase. Our SRM devices (silviculture ring mounts) are simple devices that hold nubbins in a nursery to heal and headstart; then securely outplant that coral to substrate. They simplify and accelerate the process and are highly trainable for any group (scientists, fisherfolk, and general volunteers).

The enthusiasm for our devices exceeded our expectations, with visitors recognizing their potential to make coral restoration more efficient. A sincere thank you to everyone who took the time to visit our booth and provide valuable inputs.

What a great week at Reef Futures!

The Reef Futures conference is a major international symposium focused on coral reef restoration and intervention science. It brings together coral restoration practitioners, scientists, engineers, ocean resource managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders from around the world.

It was an incredible experience to be around like-minded individuals, sharing knowledge, experiences, and techniques. As a team, we presented our silviculture ring mounts and our project, both of which were big hits. The silviculture ring mount is a single device that acts as both the propagation and outplant tools. It allows for large-scale growing and planting of corals.

The team began conducting AGGRA and photogrammetry surveys to establish a baseline for the Montego Bay grounding site. These comprehensive assessments will guide our restoration strategy, documenting everything from coral recruitment to fish assemblages. By mapping every nook and crevice of this impacted reef system, we're establishing crucial reference points to monitor the success of future coral outplanting interventions

Happy corals growing on our Montego Bay nursery