WILLEMSTAD – The Reef Renewal Foundation Curaçao has presented its 2025 annual report, announcing a significant expansion of its coral restoration program around the island. The report marks ten years of reef restoration work and describes 2025 as one of the most impactful years in the organization’s history.
According to the annual report, Reef Renewal Curaçao substantially scaled up its operations during 2025. Two new coral nurseries were installed at Playa Kalki and Cas Abou, bringing the total number of active nursery sites around Curaçao to six. The expansion increases the organization’s capacity to grow coral fragments and later outplant them onto degraded reef areas.
A key highlight of the report is the strengthening of genetic diversity within the coral cultures. During 2025, a total of 36 new genotypes of Acropora coral were introduced into the nurseries. The organization notes that greater genetic diversity improves the ability to identify and cultivate corals that are more resilient to rising sea temperatures, which pose an increasing threat due to climate change.
The report also provides insight into the scale of restoration activities carried out over the year. Hundreds of coral fragments were successfully outplanted, more than a thousand scuba tanks were used during restoration dives, and the foundation recorded a fourteen percent increase in income compared to the previous year. In addition, the tenth-anniversary fundraising event, Raise the Reef, generated more than 38,000 dollars to support ongoing restoration efforts.
Reef Renewal Curaçao attributes its progress to close collaboration with local dive operators and sponsors, as well as the involvement of internationally trained interns and volunteers. Beyond hands-on reef restoration, the foundation remains active in education, training, and community outreach, aiming to strengthen public awareness and long-term support for coral reef conservation on Curaçao.