Public education is a cornerstone of the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation's mission, and a recent outreach event at Atlantis, Paradise Island brought reef science directly to resort guests of all ages.

Following the launch of our funded sea urchin nursery project in The Bahamas, the SOAR team set up an interactive educational booth at Atlantis to share the story behind the Foundation's reef grazer restoration work. Through hands-on activities, both adults and children learned about the vital ecological role of Diadema antillarum, the long-spined sea urchin, on Caribbean coral reefs.

Visitors discovered how these keystone grazers control algae growth on reef surfaces, creating the clean substrate that coral larvae need to settle and develop. Without healthy urchin populations, reefs can shift from vibrant coral ecosystems to algae-covered landscapes. Scientists have documented this pattern repeatedly since the 1983 mass die-off that wiped out more than 95% of Diadema across the Caribbean, and a 2022 study confirmed that these community-level shifts continue to intensify with each subsequent population decline.

The educational sessions also highlighted the broader context of Caribbean reef decline. The Bahamas is currently contending with Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, a devastating disease that has affected at least 25 species of reef-building corals since it was first identified in Florida in 2014. Efforts like the Foundation's coral gene bank initiative and the coral rescue program at Atlantis work alongside sea urchin restoration to build a more comprehensive approach to reef resilience.

Engaging the public directly in conservation is one of the most effective ways to build lasting support for ocean protection. When resort guests see the science in action and understand what is at stake, they become advocates for the reefs they have visited and enjoyed.

The Atlantis Blue Project Foundation is grateful to the SOAR team for their dedication to both fieldwork and outreach, and to our guests whose participation in Atlantis marine experiences helps fund this critical work.