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Coral reefs are in crisis.

WHOI Reef Solutions Initiative
is here to help.

Coral reefs are in crisis.

WHOI Reef Solutions Initiative
is here to help.

We are working to protect and reverse the global decline of reef ecosystems with rigorous science, advanced tools and innovative solutions.

Coral reefs support more than 25% of marine animals and one billion people worldwide. But today, reefs everywhere are in decline and face a wide range of challenges.

The Sound of (Reef) Music

October 2, 2023

In the fight to save corals, the solution may lie in sound. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) associate scientist Aran Mooney learned that some rainforest researchers turned to studying noise to determine the health of these threatened environments. He hypothesized a similar connection between sound and the health of reefs. Reefs are every bit as…

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Innovative Techniques Provide New Means to Monitor Coral Reef Health

September 21, 2023

With coral reefs worldwide undergoing unprecedented stressors due to climate change and other human pressures, a large-scale application of innovative techniques shows promise for detecting the health condition of reefs. The techniques, which look at microbes and dissolved metabolites – i.e., chemicals that are produced during metabolism –were broadly applied to coral reefs off Florida…

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NFWF Announces $1.3 Million in Grants to Support Coral Reefs

September 19, 2023

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced $1.3 million in grants to support efforts to improve the health and resilience of coral reefs in Florida, Hawai’i, Guam, and America Samoa. The grants will generate $1.3 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $2.6 million. The grants were awarded through the Coral…

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Researchers propose a new technology-centered focus to study and conserve coral reefs

June 2, 2023

The scope and scale of threats facing coral reefs demand new ways of approaching the questions that need to be answered in order to ensure the future of reefs worldwide. That’s the conclusion of a paper released in print today by a multi-disciplinary scientists and engineers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). The paper,…

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Can Sound Help Save Coral Reefs?

May 22, 2023

Coral reefs are more than just a feast for the eyes, they are also awash in a stunning array of sounds. The chirps, grunts, and snaps of fish, shrimp, and other reef inhabitants are hallmarks of a healthy coral community rich in animals moving, feeding, calling out to potential mates, and fending off predators. To…

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