Coral reefs represent some of the worlds most spectacular beauty spots, but they are also the foundation of marine life: without them many of the seas most exquisite species will not survive.
We have lost half of our coral reefs in the last 30 years due to climate change, overfishing, coastal development and pollution.
Scientists estimate we will lose 90% of our reefs by 2050.
Coral reefs support 25% of all marine life, absorb 97% of wave and storm energy protecting our coasts, provide food and livelihood to one billion people, and are an important source of medicine.
Mazu
In 2018, we built a sculpture named Mazu and deployed it in Koh Tao, Thailand. She was gifted to the dive community, who built 36 pyramids around her, transplanting 5000 corals and using it as a dive and restoration site.
Within only 4 months
Mazu was covered in a layer of crustose coralline algae, the building blocks for coral recruitment.
In 2019, Kyle and Angeline launched a nonprofit organization called Global Coralition, dedicated to building sculptural reefs for coral restoration.
Their first project is in Sosua, Dominican Republic and will be the tallest underwater sculpture in the world. It is inspired by Atabey, the Mother Earth spirit of the Taino people who are the indigenous people of the Carribean.
The building of Atabey
has been a phenomenal community event. The project has engaged the participation of Taino elders, locals, schools, families, fishermen, government officials, the navy and expats.
Global Coralition is currently raising funds to build their next sculpture in Hawaii and El Limon, Dominican Republic where reefs and the reef communities need support. Make a tax deductible donation here to support these projects.