Reefs Haven Foundation
Welcome to Our Coral Rescue Project
At Reefs Haven Foundation, we are dedicated to protecting and restoring the beautiful coral reefs of the Caribbean.
About SCTLD
What is SCTLD?
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) is a rapidly spreading coral disease that mainly affects hard coral species.
First discovered in Florida in 2014, SCTLD causes coral tissue to die off very quickly, leading to widespread reef destruction.
Believed to be linked to bacteria in the water.
Now spreading throughout the Caribbean.
Represents a serious threat to reef ecosystems and marine biodiversity.
TRIPS GALLERY
What We Are Doing to Save the Coral
Antibiotic Application
We treat infected coral colonies directly with Amoxicillin.
The antibiotic is mixed into a marine-safe paste (such as Base2B or New Base) and applied to the edges of the infected tissue.
The paste slowly releases the antibiotic to kill the harmful bacteria.
Success Rate: Over 70% for treated lesions, although reinfection is possible.
- Coral colonies are regularly monitored every few weeks or months.
- New lesions are treated as they appear to control the spread of the disease.
Infected coral fragments are brought into quarantine tanks.
Quarantine stops the spread of the disease and allows for intensive treatment and careful observation.
Divers carefully fragment healthy sections of infected colonies.
These healthy fragments are grown in nurseries and later outplanted back onto reefs.
This helps preserve genetic diversity even when parent colonies are at risk.
- Scientists are testing probiotics, bacteriophages (viruses that attack harmful bacteria), and other alternative treatments.
- These methods are still experimental and not yet widely used.
Challenges We Face
High reinfection risk, especially in high-transmission zones.
Logistics and labor: Requires trained divers, specialized materials, and ongoing site visits.
Antibiotic resistance: Overuse could impact marine ecosystems, so antibiotic treatment is carefully limited to high-value or rare corals.
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