One of Blue Alliance’s four fundamental fields of operation is science & conservation. Marine Protected Area management decisions within each Blue Alliance MPA are informed by data collected through wildlife monitoring and conservation programmes. By grounding their approach in rigorous scientific data, Blue Alliance can evaluate their own performance and ensure effective, evidence-based management of marine ecosystems.
One important tool they use is coral reef health monitoring, which tracks changes in reef condition over time by assessing key ecological indicators and potential stressors. At one of Blue Alliance’s sites in the Philippines, this monitoring revealed a coral bleaching event in 2024. Remarkably, just 12 months later, surveys documented strong signs of recovery. These encouraging results demonstrate how structured management can support the natural resilience of ecosystems, helping them to recover more quickly from climate-related stress events such as bleaching.
Building on this commitment to science, Blue Alliance has also partnered with Sound Ocean Science to investigate coral spawning and larval recruitment patterns in the Pemba Channel Conservation Area (PECCA), Zanzibar. The goal of this research is to better understand coral reproduction and reef resilience, both critical for informing management and conservation strategies for coral reefs. Recently, the Blue Alliance PECCA science team trained in deploying underwater cameras designed to capture coral spawning at night. The cameras, programmed to take photo bursts every five minutes, allow the team to observe this spectacular natural event without the need for divers in the water throughout the night.
The next phase of this study will focus on refining the technique to improve photo quality and deepen insights into coral spawning behaviour. Together, these efforts, from monitoring reef health to documenting and understanding coral reproduction, highlight how science-driven management not only measures impact but also equips communities and practitioners with the knowledge needed to support reef resilience for the future.
Source: Blue Alliance
