Global Coral Reef Alliance A non-profit corporation dedicated to growing, protecting and managing the most threatened

1. Global Coral Reef AllianceA non-profit corporation dedicated to growing, protecting and managing the most threatened of all marine ecosystems —Coral Reefs

3. Reefs are dying all over the world

4. Today, 65% of the worlds reefs are dying (US Coral Reef Task Force, NOAA)

5. Why are reefs dying? Rising water temperatures Sewage flows Eutrophication Disease Dredging Dynamite Cyanide fishing Bleaching Physical damage

6. Consider Cancun Only 12 families lived on this forested island until the 1970s Then the tourist industry arrived Today, 2.6 million people visit Cancun each year The island is bare, its forests long gone Sewage facilities process only one-quarter of the daily flow The rest goes straight into the sea

7. Reefs are often covered with algae Tourism Trashes Ecological Hotspots Ecotourism is touted as a boon to the environment; poor locals working as guides and hoteliers will no longer exploit natural resources for survival. But tourists leave a lot more than footprints, according to a study announced at the fifth World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa.In just 10 years, world tourism rates have skyrocketed 200 to 500 percent. Now Conservation International and the United Nations Environment Program report that rubberneckers bring with them long-term ecological devastation.Consider Cancun, Mexico. Only 12 families lived on this forested island until the 1970s. Then the tourist industry arrived. Today, 2.6 million people visit each year, and the island is naked, its forests long gone. Local facilities can process only one-quarter of the sewage; the rest goes straight into the sea.Biodiversity hotspots, home to extraordinary numbers of species, are worst hit. Water siphoned for tourism can upset finely balanced ecosystems. Once natural treasures are destroyed, tourists depart forever, leaving local peoples in worse shape than before the travel boom.Tourism Trashes Ecological Hotspots Ecotourism is touted as a boon to the environment; poor locals working as guides and hoteliers will no longer exploit natural resources for survival. But tourists leave a lot more than footprints, according to a study announced at the fifth World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa.

8. Algae comes in green, brown and redBay Islands, Honduras, 2000

9. It smothers and kills healthy coral

10. Algae growth is often followed by Yellow-band disease

11. Bleaching is usually caused by rising ocean temperatures

12. Tissue is visible in the absence of symbiotic algae 

13. Corals worldwide suffer from bleachingBonaire, 2001

14. BLEACHED CORALNEW GUINEA

15. Physical damage is everywhereBay Islands, Honduras, 2003

16. Cyanide fishing kills coral

17. Elkhorn and anchors don’t mix Bay Islands, Honduras, 2003

18. When reefs die… Fish populations disappear Fishermen lose their livelihood Beaches and shorelines wash away Land areas erode from waves Tourists find somewhere else to dive Local economies can be devastated

19. A solution for corals in peril Biorock™ Process

20. The Biorock™ ProcessCorals thrive. Even where water quality is poor

21. Biorock™/ Mineral Accretion  On underwater, conductive structures we assemble a positively charged anode and a negatively charged cathode (structure) Apply a low voltage electric current between them Safe for swimmers Which causes minerals to crystallize from seawater onto structures Calcium carbonate, white limestone (CaCO3) is formed Similar to natural coral reefs and tropical white sand Corals adhere to limestone and grow quickly

22. How a Biorock™ Reef works

23. Rebar can be welded in any shape

24. When the materials are fully assembled…

25. We float it into position

26. We attach the electric cables

27. Calcium carbonate quickly forms on the structure

28. We make the frame ready for coral

29. We wire naturally broken pieces of coral to the structure

30. Coral fragments soon cover the frame

31. We monitor coral growth

32. Barnacle Reef, Maldives, 1997

33. Barnacle Reef A year later, 1998

34. Barnacle Reef, 3 years growth

35. Corals are robust and healthy

36. Fish populations move in

37. The new marine ecosystem is both balanced and healthy

38. Biorock™ Reefs attract divers

39. Biorock™ Reefs around the world Indonesia, Bali and Komodo Jamaica Maldives, Ihuru and Vabbinfaru Mexico, Yucatan Panama, San Blas Islands Papua New Guinea Saya de Malha Seychelles Thailand, Phuket Palau

40. GCRA Projects have won international awards The SKAL award for the best Underwater Ecotourism project worldwide. KONAS Indonesian National Award for best community-based coastal zone management Theodore Sperry Award, the top prize of the Society for Ecological Restoration Maldives Environment Award

41. Biorock™ Press

42. GCRA projects Build, restore and maintain coral reefs in communities worst affected by loss of reefs Build reefs for tourism Breakwaters for shore protection Mariculture—Oysters Consultation—Diseases, conservation, rehabilitation

43. Funding

44. Global Coral Reef Alliance Associates Jon Allen, GCRA Board of Directors, research engineer and instrumentation designer Yos Amerta, Bali programs Max Benjamin, Papua New Guinea programs Jude Bijoux, Seychelles programs James Cervino, Coral physiologist, field and laboratory analysis Dan & Stefanie Clark, Florida programs Gabriel Despaigne, Panama programs Gerardo Garcia, Mexico programs Marina Goreau, Children's program Tom Goreau, GCRA President Azeez. A. Hakeem, Maldives programs Ray Hayes, GCRA Board of Advisors, coral health Wolf Hilbertz, Reef Restoration Jeff Houdret, GCRA Board of Advisors, marketing advisor, web issues Narayana, Bali programs Dr. Steven Orzack, GCRA Board of Directors, Director of the Fresh Pond Research Institute Niphon Phongsuwan, Thailand programs Cody Shwaiko, Komodo programs Roque Solis, Panama programs Dr. Robert K. Trench. Retired professor of biology at University of California at Santa Barbara Ernest Williams, GCRA Board of Directors, Coral diseases