United Seas for Resilient Reefs: A Blueprint for Coral Conservation through International Cooperation

Authors

John J. Bohorquez, Stony Brook University, School of Marine and Atmospheric SciencesFollow
Maoz Fine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Inter-university Institute for Marine Science in EilatFollow
Dana I. Grieco, Duke Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityFollow
David A. Gill, Duke Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke UniversityFollow
Ali Al-Swalimih, Marine Science Station, University of JordanFollow
Jacqueline Padilla-Gamino, University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesFollow
Isaiah W. Bolden, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Earth & Atmospheric SciencesFollow
Margaux Hein, Marine Ecosystem Restoration Research and ConsultingFollow
Callum Backstrom, University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery SciencesFollow
Melanie McField, Healthy Reefs for Healthy PeopleFollow
Raphael Martinez, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People - BelizeFollow
Benjamin Midberry, United Nations Capital Development Fund, The Global Fund for Coral ReefsFollow
Fahd Al-Guthmy, Wildlife Conservation Society - KenyaFollow
Ellen K. Pikitch, Stony Brook University, School of Marine and Atmospheric SciencesFollow
Natalia Benejam, Stony Brook University, School of Marine and Atmospheric SciencesFollow
Chen Azulay, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Inter-university Institute for Marine Science in EilatFollow
Britt Ronen, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Inter-university Institute for Marine Science in EilatFollow
Oren Levy, Bar-Ilan UniversityFollow
Anne McElroy, Stony Brook University, School of Marine and Atmospheric SciencesFollow
Karine Kleinhaus, Stony Brook University, School of Marine and Atmospheric SciencesFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2025

Keywords

Coral Reefs, Climate Change, Resilience, Conservation, Red Sea, Caribbean

Abstract

Coral reefs are one of Earth’s most vital and threatened ecosystems. They protect coastlines, generate billions of dollars of tourism revenue, support valuable fisheries, and contribute to the development of vital medicines. Yet half of the world's coral reefs have been lost in the last 50 years, and 90% of remaining reefs are projected to die off by the middle of this century, mainly due to warming seas from climate change.

Despite these challenges there is reason for hope. Some coral reefs – such as in the northern Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba – have demonstrated remarkable resilience to climate change impacts. However, they are at risk from other threats such as pollution, unsustainable development, harmful fishing, and unsustainable tourism. And like any organism or ecosystem, coral reefs will be in the best position to fight impacts from climate change if they are otherwise in the healthiest condition possible. Therefore, while it is imperative to accelerate the global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that drive ocean warming, additional conservation initiatives and strategies are necessary to support coral reef resilience, with priority given to those ecosystems that have demonstrated meaningful thermal resilience to this point.

Around the world, local communities, scientists, and policymakers are also developing new ways to protect and restore these ecosystems. Many of these efforts must be implemented at the local level, but, given that coral reefs are highly connected ecosystems spanning large areas of ocean and often cross international borders, reef conservation also necessitates transboundary actions steered by coordination and cooperation across countries.

This report offers a roadmap for global and regional action to safeguard coral reefs. It draws on the work of a coalition of experts across a diversity of disciplines in coral reef conservation, from finance to physiology, from six countries who gathered in June 2024 to develop strategies for supporting coral resilience. Inspired by conservation efforts in the Gulf of Aqaba, they focused on two critical but juxtaposing regions – the Red Sea and the Caribbean – to identify practical, actionable steps at regional and global levels to support transboundary, seascape-level action for coral reef resilience. In addition to concrete recommendations for the focal regions of the Red Sea and Caribbean, the outcomes of their work also provides a comprehensive framework to support international and transboundary management of coral reefs at global and regional levels. The workshop identified several priority actions for supporting resilience, including:

1. Conservation finance;

2. Science and knowledge management;

3. Regional political coordination;

4. Area-based management;

5. Ecosystem restoration; and,

6. Capacity strengthening and community engagement

By examining the unique characteristics of different coral reef ecosystems, such as the extreme thermal tolerance of Red Sea corals, and considering both environmental and social factors as one connected ecological system, this paper provides valuable insights for enhancing coral reef resilience and conservation efforts globally.

Above all, this paper highlights a powerful truth: in a world where diplomacy and political coordination are increasingly strained, coral reef survival depends on international cooperation and coordination.

Reefs span borders. So must our solutions to save them.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Bohorquez, J., Fine, M., Grieco, D. I., Gill, D. A., Al-Swalimih, A., Padilla-Gamiño, J., Bolden, I. W., Hein, M., Backstrom, C., McField, M., Martinez, R., Midberry, B., Al-Guthmy, F., Pikitch, E., Benejam, N., Azulay, C., Ronen, B., Levy, O., McElroy, A., & Kleinhaus, K. (2025). United seas for resilient reefs: A blueprint for coral conservation through international cooperation. Stony Brook University and The New York Climate Exchange. Available at: [URL]