Finding, safeguarding, multiplying and fostering a future for the winning corals
OUR MISSION
We are a team of marine ecologists and fisher stakeholders from local communities impacted by the global climate and biodiversity crises. Our executive team is formed of specialists in tropical coastal ecosystem restoration with international experience in a handful of diverse Caribbean contexts. Our practice is registered in Jamaica and has been in operation since 2023 through consultancies and partnerships with various local community and public and private sector organizations.WHO WE ARE
WHAT WE DO
FELIX CHARNLEY MSC
Felix is a specialist in coral reef restoration ecology with a ten-year background in community-based grassroots conservation in the Caribbean and Latin America, and a Master of Science in Tropical Coastal Ecosystem Management from the University of the West Indies. His work focuses mainly on emergency response and endangered species conservation and restoration. He has worked with coral reefs in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, the Cayman Islands and extensively in Jamaica where he has been actively involved in the country's MPA network, responding to the major coral mortality event of 2023 and rebuilding climate adapted populations of keystone species.
Felix spearheaded and led the Resilient Reefs of Jamaica national Acropora inventory and restocking campaign which he has so far decentralised along the north coast throughout consecutive positions at White River Fish Sanctuary and the St. Ann Marine Association, Iberostar Resorts' Wave of Change program, Seascape Caribbean and most recently the Derby Beach Marine Sanctuary and Lucea Fish Sanctuary.SYRECE EVANS
Syrece is a marine biologist and diver with an undergraduate degree from the UWI Mona. She has gained practical experience at Discovery Bay Marine Lab and most recently Seascape Caribbean. A shared vision and set of field skills has led to Syrece and Felix partnering as The Protectors to continue expanding this mission.We design, implement and execute grassroots, community-based coral reef restoration projects in all of their field and administrative phases. We develop, hire and train teams of local stakeholders, converting traditional resource users into marine conservation ambassadors. Our skills and services include project design and implementation, permitting and licenses, recruitment and training, field labour, scientific data administration, project comms and social media, research publication and international symposium participation.
We conduct thorough long swim surveys, scanning all available reefscapes and coral communities in their entirety, in search of surviving specimens of high value with which to stock conservation programs or inform national conservation agendas.
Major extinction-level dieback events have become increasingly frequent following consecutive years of record-breaking summer heat. Recent mortality events have reversed the positive impact and resulted in the discontinuation of many programs working to restore coral reefs. We take on the herculean field labour required to bring species back from the brink. In swimming the extra mile to locate survivors, we scout genetic material or provide geospatial information pertaining to surviving colonies to those wanting to start over or partner to develop new programs.THE INTERNATIONAL PICTURE
OUR FOOTPRINT OVER THE YEARS
Our efforts are of regional relevance for reef resilience in Jamaica and beyond.
CASE STUDY
RESILIENT REEFS OF JAMAICA
Our flagship project, Resilient Reefs Of Jamaica, was born in response to the devastating impact of the 4th Global Coral Bleaching Event of 2023–2024 which resulted in the near local extinction of the Caribbean's emblematic elkhorn and staghorn corals.
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
People are the backbone of conservation. Your support helps us grow our army of local reef stewards and compensate our team and local boat captains for the skilled work required to maintain a consistent operation.
PARTERS AND COLLABORATORS
Our work has so far been funded, licensed, outsourced or logistically supported in all its stages through partnerships, consultancies and grants awarded by the following institutions and local organizations.