A Season of Gratitude
This Thanksgiving, while many families are gathering around full tables, our team at the Bahamas Coral Gene Bank is celebrating a different kind of bounty. Our coral family has just grown by 29 new colonies, all safely settled into their quarantine tanks just in time for the holidays.
These new arrivals, collected from the reefs of Abaco, are not just beautiful additions to our facility. They are survivors. In a time when our oceans face unprecedented challenges, seeing these tanks fill up gives us 29 new reasons to be hopeful for the future of Bahamian reefs.
The "Living Library": A Noah’s Ark for Corals
Why do we bring these corals out of the ocean and into our tanks? The answer lies in a devastating threat known as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD). This lethal disease has spread rapidly across The Bahamas, decimating populations of reef-building corals.
The Bahamas Coral Gene Bank—a biosecure facility located at Atlantis Paradise Island—serves as a "living library." Just as a seed bank preserves plant biodiversity for the future, our gene bank safeguards the genetic diversity of coral species that are most vulnerable to extinction. By keeping these 29 new colonies safe in a controlled environment, we are protecting their unique DNA from the disease raging in the wild. They will be cared for, studied by experts, and eventually used to parent the next generation of resilient corals that will one day restore our reefs.
New arrivals settling in! 29 rescued coral colonies from Abaco have been placed in quarantine tanks at the Bahamas Coral Gene Bank. These corals are part of a 'living library' designed to protect Bahamian reef biodiversity from Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.
A Voyage of Collaboration: The SeaKeepers Partnership
Collecting these corals from the remote reefs of Abaco was a mission that required more than just scientific expertise. It required a big vessel. This expedition was made possible through our vital partnership with The International SeaKeepers Society and their DISCOVERY Yacht Program.
We are deeply grateful to the owners and crew of the D/Y Dione Sun, who generously donated their time, fuel, and vessel to serve as our research platform. The DISCOVERY Yacht Program is a shining example of how the yachting community can directly contribute to marine conservation, transforming private vessels into engines for scientific discovery. Thanks to the Dione Sun crew, our Perry Institute for Marine Science scientists could access critical sites, dive safely, and transport these delicate animals back to the safety of the Gene Bank.
Powered by Partnership
The Bahamas Coral Gene Bank is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together. It is the first facility of its kind in The Bahamas, born from a powerful coalition including:
The Government of The Bahamas (Department of Marine Resources & Department of Environmental Planning and Protection)
Atlantis Paradise Island & The Atlantis Blue Project Foundation (Funding and facility management)
The Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) (Scientific management and coral husbandry)
University of The Bahamas (UB) & BAMSI (Student involvement and future leadership)
This Thanksgiving, we are thankful for every partner, every donor, and every crew member who helps keep the pumps running and the lights on for these endangered animals.
Give the Gift of Resilience
Your support is the oxygen that keeps this project alive. This holiday season, consider sharing the love from your family to ours. Your donations help us maintain the pristine water quality, food, and expert care that these 29 new corals need to survive and thrive.