Coral Gardeners

Mo’orea - French Polynesia

Issue:

Coral reef degradation due to rising ocean temperatures and human impact

Consequences:

Loss of marine biodiversity, weakened coastal ecosystems, and the collapse of reef-dependent communities

Approach:

Coral restoration, education, and scalable global reef protection initiatives driven by technology and local action

Reviving Reefs, Inspiring a Global Movement

Coral Gardeners was born in 2017 on the island of Mo’orea, the sister island of Tahiti in French Polynesia. What started as a small group of local island youth witnessing the rapid decline of their home reef has since grown into a global collective of ocean advocates, scientists, engineers, and creatives, all united by a single mission: to revolutionize ocean conservation and spark a worldwide movement to save coral reefs.

Coral Gardeners team members maintaining underwater coral nursery nursery in Mo’orea.

Restoring Life to Coral Reefs

Coral Gardeners restores damaged reefs affected by rising sea temperatures, bleaching, and human disturbances. Using innovative techniques, they cultivate resilient "super corals" in ocean nurseries and replant them onto struggling reefs—creating ecosystems that are stronger, healthier, and better able to withstand future change. Every step is grounded in science and guided by constant monitoring and improvement.

Scaling Impact, Empowering Action

Their work goes beyond the waterline. Coral Gardeners is building a scalable, global model that enables individuals and communities around the world to launch local branches—restoring reefs wherever help is needed. Their vision is to empower everyone to act for the reef, no matter where they live.

Education Across Oceans and Generations

Awareness is key. Through school talks, global conferences, brand ambassadors, and high-impact storytelling on social media, Coral Gardeners is changing the way people think about coral. They work to redefine coral as not just a stone—but as a vital, living foundation of marine life.

Innovating with Purpose

Combining technology and creativity, the team develops some of the world’s most advanced tools for ocean conservation. From AI-powered, connected coral nurseries to immersive monitoring experiences for local communities, Coral Gardeners continues to push boundaries—making reef restoration more effective, engaging, and accessible than ever before.

Their message is clear: The reef needs us all. And with action, we can bring it back.

Photo Credits: ©
Coral Gardeners
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Suspended coral nursery lines under the ocean surface, used for reef restoration by Coral Gardeners.
Coral Gardeners diver applying adhesive to reattach coral fragments to the reef structure underwater.
he Coral Gardeners core team collaborating at a strategy session with laptops under a tree.
Coral Gardeners team member holding a rope with coral fragments in an underwater nursery in Mo’orea.
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