SECORE International

About us

SECORE International, Inc. is a leading conservation organization for the restoration of coral reefs. With sound science as the basis of our work, findings and developed methods are translated by engineers into innovative techniques and tools to implement reef restoration at much larger scales than currently possible―which is urgently needed, regarding the dire situation of coral reefs worldwide.

We have established a global network of scientists, public aquarium professionals as well as local authorities, partners and stakeholders. We share our knowledge in training events and workshops, and mentor our partners for implementing new techniques on-site.

Our focus is to work with breeding corals, enabling us to get huge numbers of coral babies by collecting coral germ cells during natural spawning events on the reef, while supporting the corals' genetic diversity and consequently promoting reef resilience at the same time. We develop tools to raise corals without the need for sophisticated land-based facilities and to bring them back to the wild in more efficient ways. We are dedicated to giving coral reefs a fighting chance for the future!

Our Mission: creating and sharing the tools and technologies to sustainably restore coral reefs worldwide.

Our Vision: a world where thriving coral reefs support healthy oceans for future generations.

SECORE International is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The corporation is based in Ohio (USA).

For media inquiries please contact:

Dr. Carin Jantzen, c.jantzen@secore.org

Current job openings

see our vacancies at OUR WORK - Job Opportunities with SECORE

Like a coral reef, we believe SECORE thrives with diversity

SECORE strongly believes that a community of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicities and cultures best prepares us to achieve our research, conservation, and restoration goals. Our strategy for implementing large scale coral restoration depends on working and partnering in many nations and across cultures. We appreciate that every person brings a unique viewpoint and experience to advance our mission, and we seek for our staff and boards to increasingly represent and encompass the diverse cultures, backgrounds, orientations, and perspectives of the communities in which we work and live. SECORE maintains that inclusion requires an ongoing commitment, one we enthusiastically make to build an organization that actively supports diversity across all lines of difference including age, economic circumstance, ethnicity, sex, race, range of ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity/expression.

Staff

Dr. Dirk Petersen, Founder and Executive Director

Dr. Margaret Miller, Research Director

Aric Bickel, M.A., Director of Technology and Implementation

Dr. Carin Jantzen, Communications Director

Diego Foronda, M.A., Administrative & Logistics Manager

Lena Starcevic, foreign language correspondent, Communications and Outreach Specialist

Dr. Valérie Chamberland, Research Scientist, Curaçao

Kelly Latijnhouwers, M.Sc., Caribbean Restoration Coordinator, Curaçao

Alex van der Last, M.Sc., Restoration Technician, Bonaire

Miles Louis McGonigle, B.Sc., Project Engineer, Miami

Hannah Ditzler, M.Sc., Research Technician, Miami

Sandra Mendoza Quiroz, M.Sc., Mexico Restoration Coordinator, Mexico

Eduardo Antonio Avila Pech, B.Sc., Roving Restoration Technician, Mexico

Tania Doblado Speck, B.A., Caribbean Training Coordinator, Mexico

Raúl Tecalco Rentería, B.Sc., Restoration Technician, Mexico

Development and Major gifts

Lori Hunter Overmyer, MBA, CFRE, Development Executive, Goettler Associates
l.overmyer@secore.org

Board of Directors

Michelle Galligan, Chair, Keep Financials, USA

Dr. Jené Kapela, Vice Chair, Kapela Leadership Solutions, USA

Fernando Bretos, Secretary, The Ocean Foundation, USA

Brian Dudley, Treasurer, Aquatic Adventures, USA

Stephanie Stone, Science Journalist, USA

Dr. Craig Dahlgren, Perry Institute for Marine Science, USA

Erin Medlin, Real World Agile Training, USA

Scientific Advisory Board

Dr. Margaret Miller, SECORE International, Chair

Prof. Andrew Baker, University of Miami, USA

Dr. Elvira Alvarado Chacon, Universidad de Bogota Jorge Tadeo Lozan, Colombia

Prof. Iliana Baums – Penn State University, USA

Dr. James Guest – Newcastle University, UK

Dr. Rebecca Albright - California Academy of Sciences, USA

Prof. Peter Harrison - Director, Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University, Australia

Dr. Valerie Paul, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, USA

Zoo and Aquarium Advisory Board

Aric Bickel, SECORE International, Chair

Mark Schick – Shedd Aquarium, USA

Mitch Carl – Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, USA

Media and Communications

Paul Selvaggio – photography, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Vanessa Cara-Kerr - videography and production, Reef Patrol

Nele Schütz - graphic design, Nele Schütz Design

Mike McCue - videography, Marine Science Center Florida

Legal Counsel

Peter A. Precario, J.D. – Policy Advisor, Columbus, USA

Alexander Bulach, J.D. – Attorney at Law, Munich, Germany

Lead partners

References

In the media

Special Coral Reef issue of the ECO Magazine, in cooperation with the ICRS 2021, featuring the article Growing Corals - our work lively explained based on notes from the field. http://digital.ecomagazine.com/publication/frame.
2020/1 Growing Coral, ECO Magazine

Future Oceans - Women working to save coral reefs in Mexico
2019/2 - Feature about Dr. Anastazia Banaszak, lead of our joint restoration project in Mexico, Lenny Letter

Collapsing coral reefs — can we rebuild them? together with Terry Hughes (James Cook University, Australia)
2019/1 - Interview with Research Director Margaret Miller on Radio CBC - Quirks & Quarks

How to raise baby corals?
2018/9 - Video portrait of SECORE Research Scientist Valérie Chamberland, produced by Exposure Labs

On the Attack Against Climate Change
2018/9 - New York Times: Article with a short feature about SECORE's and TNC's work in the Caribbean

Spawning an Intervention
2018/9 - BioGraphic's multimedia story about our coral restoration work on Curaçao

Could additive manufacturing fix coral reefs?
2018/8 - News article about SECORE's 3D printed settlement tiles

In Vitro Fertilization Could Be the Key to Coral Reef Conservation
2018/6 - Feature about SECORE's new substrate designs in the Redshift Magazine, published by the Autodesk Foundation

Scientists Are Breeding Super Coral That Can Survive Climate Change: VICE on HBO, Full Episode
2018/3 - Vice News documentary, featuring SECORE's work on Curaçao

Successful Coral Sowing Reef Regeneration Trial in Curaçao
2018/1 - DIVE magazine (UK): Feature about SECORE's work in Curaçao,

As Corals Wither Around The World, Scientists Try IVF
2017 - National Public Radio: Feature about SECORE's coral restoration work in Guam

New hope for endangered corals: Scientists take an important step towards sustainable restoration of Caribbean reefs
2016 - ScienceDaily: Laboratory-bred corals reproduce in the wild

Coral Restoration Research Findings Bring Positive News for the Future of Coral Reefs
2016 - NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC - voices: Mark Schick on the involvement of Shedd Aquarium with SECORE

Review on coral reef restoration
2016 - Advanced Aquarist, the noble work of coral reef restoration

'A Coral Love Story' by Vanessa Cara-Kerr, reefpatrol.com
2015 - Advanced Aquarist: Short animated film to explain the unique coral restoration work of SECORE

Can we restore the world’s coral reefs?
2013 - BBC News - Dr. Dirk Petersen shares some insights about SECORE's conservation work in an interview with the BBC.

Helping Threatened Corals Thrive: A Love Story
2012 - NOAA news: NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region Protected Resources Division is working with SECORE

Restoring Endangered Coral in the Caribbean
2012 - NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC - voices: Mark Schick, Shedd Aquarium, shares a trip report from a coral spawning field workshop

Scientific publications

RC Geertsma, T Wijgerde, KRW Latijnhouwers, VF Chamberland. 2022. Coral Reefs, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-022-02310-2
2022/10 Onset of zooplanktivory and optimal water flow rates for prey capture in newly settled polyps of ten Caribbean coral spe

Tali Vardi, Whitney C. Hoot, Jessica Levy, Elizabeth Shaver, R. Scott Winters, Anastazia T. Banaszak, Iliana B. Baums, Valérie F. Chamberland, Nathan Cook, David Gulko, Margaux Y. Hein, Les Kaufman, Michelle Loewe, Petra Lundgren, Caitlin Lustic, Petra MacGowan, Mikhail V. Matz, Miles McGonigle, et al. 2021. Restoration Ecology, https://doi.org/10
2021/9 Six priorities to advance the science and practice of coral reef restoration worldwide

MW Miller, KRW Latijnhouwers, A Bickel, S Mendoza-Quiroz, M Schick, K Burton, AT Banaszak. 2021. Restoration Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13512
2021/8 Settlement yields in large-scale in situ culture of Caribbean coral larvae for restoration

Knowlton N, Grottoli AG, Kleypas J, Obura D, Corcoran E, de Goeij J, Felis T, Harding S, Mayfield A, Miller M, Osuka K, Peixoto R, Randall CJ, Voolstra CR, Wells S, Wild C, Ferse S. 2021. Rebuilding Coral Reefs: A Decadal Grand Challenge. International Coral Reef Society and Future Earth Coasts, 56 pp. https://doi.org/10.53642/NRKY9386
2021/7 Rebuilding Coral Reefs: A Decadal Grand Challenge

Margaret W. Miller, Allan J. Bright, Rachel E. Pausch, Dana E. Williams (2020) PeerJ Larval longevity and competency patterns of Caribbean reef-building corals. doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9705
2020/3 Larval longevity and competency patterns of Caribbean reef-building corals

Elisa Bayraktarov, Anastazia T. Banaszak, et al. (2020) PLOS ONE Coral reef restoration efforts in Latin American countries and territories. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228477
2020/2 - Coral reef restoration efforts in Latin American countries and territories

John Everett Parkinson Andrew C. Baker Iliana B. Baums Sarah W. Davies Andréa G. Grottoli Sheila A. Kitchen Mikhail V. Matz Margaret W. Miller Andrew A. Shantz Carly D. Kenkel (2020): Molecular tools for coral reef restoration: Beyond biomarker discovery. Conservation Letters, DOI: 10.1111/conl.12687
2020/1 - Molecular tools for coral reef restoration: Beyond biomarker discovery

Iliana Baums, Andrew Baker, Sarah Davies, Andréa Grottoli, Carly Kenkel, Sheila Kitchen, Ilsa Kuffner, Todd LaJeunesse, Mikhail Matz, Margaret Miller, John E. Parkinson, Andrew A. Shantz (2019): Considerations for maximizing the adaptive potential of restored coral populations in the western Atlantic, doi.org/10.1002/eap.1978
2019/4 - Considerations for maximizing the adaptive potential of restored coral populations in the western Atlantic

Jay Fisch, Crawford Drury, Erica K. Towle, Rivah N. Winter, Margaret W. Miller (2019): Physiological and reproductive repercussions of consecutive summer bleaching events of the threatened Caribbean coral Orbicella faveolata, Coral Reef, doi.org/10.1007/s00338-019-01817-5
2019/3 - Physiological and reproductive repercussions of consecutive summer bleaching events of the threatened Caribbean coral O

Kelly E. Speare, Alain Duran, Margaret W. Miller, Deron E. Burkepile: Sediment associated with algal turfs inhibit the settlement of two endangered coral species, Marine Pollution Bulletin 144 (2019) 189–195, doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.066
2019/2 - Sediment associated with algal turfs inhibit the settlement of two endangered coral species

Margaret W. Miller, Philip J. Colburn, Emma Pontes, Dana E. Williams, Allan J. Bright, Xaymara M. Serrano, Esther C. Peters (2019). Genotypic variation in disease susceptibility among cultured stocks of elkhorn and staghorn corals. PeerJ, doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6751
2019/1 - Genotypic variation in disease susceptibility among cultured stocks of elkhorn and staghorn corals

Aaron A. Hartmann, Kristen L. Marhaver, Anke Klueter, Michael T. Lovci, Collin J. Closek, Erika Diaz, Valérie F. Chamberland, Frederick I. Archer, Dimitri D. Deheyn, Mark J.A. Vermeij, Monica Medina (2018): Acquisition of obligate mutualist symbionts during the larval stage is not beneficial for a coral host, Molecular Ecology, DOI: 10.1111/mec.149
2018/4 - Acquisition of obligate mutualist symbionts during the larval stage is not beneficial for a coral host

Mary Hagedorn, Christopher A. Page, Keri ONeill, Daisy M. Flores, Lucas Tichy, Valerie F. Chamberland, Claire Lager, Nikolas Zuchowicz, Kathryn Lohr, Harvey Blackburn, Tali Vardi, Jennifer Moore, Tom Moore, Mark J. A. Vermeij, Kristen L. Marhaver (2018), bioRxiv, DOI: 10.1101/492447
2018/3 - Successful demonstration of assisted gene flow in the threatened coral Acropora palmata across genetically-isolated Car

Rachel E. Pausch, Dana E. Williams, Margaret W. Miller (2018): Impacts of fragment genotype, habitat, and size on outplanted elkhorn coral success under thermal stress, MEPS 592:109-117 (2018) - DOI: 10.3354/meps12488
2018/2 - Impacts of fragment genotype, habitat, and size on outplanted elkhorn coral success under thermal stress

Mark C. Ladd, Margaret W. Miller, John H. Hunt, William C. Sharp Deron E. Burkepile (2018): Harnessing ecological processes to facilitate coral restoration, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, DOI: 10.1002/fee.1792
2018/1 - Coral reef restoration can build on lessons learned from restoring other ecosystems to develop creative methods for har

Valérie F. Chamberland, Skylar Snowden, Kristen L. Marhaver, Dirk Petersen, Mark J. A. Vermeij (2017) The reproductive biology and early life ecology of a common Caribbean brain coral, Diploria labyrinthiformis (Scleractinia: Faviinae). Coral Reefs. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-016-1504-2
2017 - The reproductive biology and early life ecology of a common Caribbean brain coral, Diploria labyrinthiformis (Scleractini

Valérie F Chamberland, Dirk Petersen, James R Guest, Udo Petersen, Mike Brittsan, Mark JA Vermeij: New Seeding Approach Reduces Costs and Time to Outplant Sexually Propagated Corals for Reef Restoration. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17555-z
2017 - New Seeding Approach Reduces Costs and Time to Outplant Sexually Propagated Corals for Reef Restoration (open access)

M. W. Miller, I. B. Baums, R. E. Pausch, A. J. Bright, C. M. Cameron, D. E. Williams, Z. J. Moffitt, C. M. Woodley: Clonal structure and variable fertilization success in Florida Keys broadcast-spawning corals, Coral Reefs (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-017-1651-0 , first online: 08 December 2017;
2017 - Clonal structure and variable fertilization success in Florida Keys broadcast-spawning corals

Chamberland VF, Petersen D, Latijnhouwers KRW, Snowden S, Mueller B, Vermeij MJA. 2016. Four-year-old Caribbean Acropora colonies reared from field-collected gametes are sexually mature. Bulletin of Marine Science DOI: 10.5343/bms.2015.1074
2016 - Four-year-old Caribbean Acropora colonies reared from field-collected gametes are sexually mature (pdf file)

Chamberland VF, Vermeij MJA, Brittsan M, Carl M, Schick M, Snowden S, Schrier A, Petersen D. 2015. Restoration of critically endangered elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) populations using larvae reared from wild-caught gametes. Global Ecology and Conservation 4:526–537, DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2015.10.005
2015 - Restoration of critically endangered elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) (pdf file)

J. R. Guest , M. V. Baria, E. D. Gomez, A. J. Heyward, A. J. Edwards (2014) losing the circle: is it feasible to rehabilitate reefs with sexually propagated corals? Coral Reefs 33(1):45-55.
2014 - Closing the circle: is it feasible to rehabilitate reefs with sexually propagated corals?

Polato NR, Altman NS, and Baums IB (2013) Variation in the transcriptional response of threatened coral larvae to elevated temperatures. Molecular Ecology, 22: 1366–1382.
2013 - Variation in the transcriptional response of threatened coral larvae to elevated temperatures

Marhaver KL, Vermeij MJA, Rohwer F, and Sandin SA (2013) Janzen-Connell effects in a broadcast-spawning Caribbean coral: distance-dependent survival of larvae and settlers. Ecology, 94: 146–160.
2013 - Janzen-Connell effects in a broadcast-spawning Caribbean coral: distance-dependent survival of larvae and settlers

Baria MVB, Dela Cruz DW, Villanueva RD, and Guest JR (2012) Spawning of Three-Year-Old Acropora Millepora Corals Reared from Larvae in Northwestern Philippines. Bull Mar Sci 88(1):61-62.
2012 - Spawning of Three-Year-Old Acropora Millepora Corals Reared from Larvae in Northwestern Philippines

Hagedorn M, Carter V, Paresa K, Acker J, Baums IB, Borneman E, Brittsan M, Byers M, Henley M, Laterveer M, Leong JA, McCarthy M, Meyers S, Nelson BD, Petersen D, Tiersch T, Uribe RC, Woods E, and Wildt D (2012) Preserving and Using Germplasm and Dissociated Embryonic Cells for Conserving Caribbean and Pacific Coral. PLOS ONE 7(3): e33354.
2012 - Preserving and Using Germplasm and Dissociated Embryonic Cells for Conserving Caribbean and Pacific Coral

Villanueva RD, Baria MVB, and Dela Cruz DW (2012) Growth and survivorship of juvenile corals outplanted to degraded reef areas in Bolinao-Anda Reef Complex, Philippines. Marine Biology Research 8(9):877-884.
2012 - Growth and survivorship of juvenile corals outplanted to degraded reef areas in Bolinao-Anda Reef Complex, Philippines

Guest JR, Baird AH, Maynard JA, Muttaqin E, Edwards AJ, et al. (2012) Contrasting Patterns of Coral Bleaching Susceptibility in 2010 Suggest an Adaptive Response to Thermal Stress. PLoS ONE 7(3).
2012 - Contrasting Patterns of Coral Bleaching Susceptibility in 2010 Suggest an Adaptive Response to Thermal Stress

Vermeij MJA, Bakker J, Van der Hal N, and Bak RPM (2011) Juvenile Coral Abundance Has Decreased by More Than 50% in Only Three Decades on a Small Caribbean Island. Diversity, 3: 296-307.
2011 - Juvenile Coral Abundance Has Decreased by More Than 50% in Only Three Decades on a Small Caribbean Island

Guest JR, Dizon RM, Edwards AJ, Franco C, and Gomez ED (2011) How Quickly do Fragments of Coral “Self-Attach” after Transplantation? Restoration Ecology, 19: 234–242.
2011 - How Quickly do Fragments of Coral “Self-Attach” after Transplantation?

Vermeij MJA, Van Moorselaar I, Engelhard S, Hörnlein C, Vonk SM, et al. (2010) The Effects of Nutrient Enrichment and Herbivore Abundance on the Ability of Turf Algae to Overgrow Coral in the Caribbean. PLoS ONE 5(12): e14312.
2010 - The Effects of Nutrient Enrichment and Herbivore Abundance on the Ability of Turf Algae to Overgrow Coral in the Caribbea

Edwards AJ (ed.) (2010) Reef Rehabilitation Manual. Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity Building for Management Program. The Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity. Building for Management Program, St Lucia, Australia. pp. 166
2010 - Reef Rehabilitation Manual. Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity Building for Management Program.

Villanueva RD, Edwards AJ, and Bell JD (2010) Enhancement of Grazing Gastropod Populations as a Coral Reef Restoration Tool: Predation Effects and Related Applied Implications. Restoration Ecology, 18: 803–809.
2010 - Enhancement of Grazing Gastropod Populations as a Coral Reef Restoration Tool: Predation Effects and Related Applied Impl

Vermeij MJA, Marhaver KL, Huijbers CM, Nagelkerken I, and SimpsonSD (2010) Coral Larvae Move toward Reef Sounds. PLoS ONE 5(5): e10660.
2010 - Coral Larvae Move toward Reef Sounds

Hagedorn M, Carter VL, Hollingworth L, Leong JC, Kanno R, Borneman EH, Petersen D, Laterveer M, Brittsan M, Schick M (2009) Ex Situ Culture of Caribbean and Pacific Coral Larvae comparing various Flow-through Chambers. Proceedings of the Smithsonian Marine Science Symposium 2007 (eds. Lang MA, Macintyre IG,Rützler K). Smithsonian Institution Schola
2009 - Ex Situ Culture of Caribbean and Pacific Coral Larvae comparing various Flow-through Chambers

Petersen D, Carl M, Borneman E, Brittsan M, Hagedorn M, Laterveer M, and Schick M (2008) Noah's Ark for the threatened Elkhorn coral Acropora palmata. Coral Reefs 27(3):715.
2008 - Noah's Ark for the threatened Elkhorn coral Acropora palmata

Petersen D, Wietheger A, and Laterveer M (2008) Influence of different food sources on the initial development of sexual recruits of reefbuilding corals in aquaculture. Aquaculture 277(3-4):174-178.
2008 - Influence of different food sources on the initial development of sexual recruits of reefbuilding corals in aquaculture

Baums IB (2008) A restoration genetics guide for coral reef conservation. Molecular Ecology 17(12):2796–2811.
2008 - A restoration genetics guide for coral reef conservation

Petersen D, Falcato J, Gilles P, and Jones R (2007) Sexual coral reproduction in live coral exhibits – current status and future perspectives. International Zoo Yearbook 41:122-137.
2007 - Sexual coral reproduction in live coral exhibits – current status and future perspectives

Pennisi E (2007) Reefs in trouble - spawning for a better life. Science 318(5857):1712-1717.
2007 - Reefs in trouble - spawning for a better life

Petersen D, Laterveer M, Van Bergen D, Hatta M, Hebbinghaus R, Janse M, Jones R, Richter U, Ziegler T, Visser G, and Schuhmacher H (2006) The application of sexual coral recruits for sustainable management of ex situ populations in public aquariums - SECORE-Project. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 16(2):167-179.
2006 - The application of sexual coral recruits for sustainable management in public aquariums - SECORE-Project

Villanueva RD, Yap HT, Montaño MNE (2005) Survivorship of coral juveniles in a fish farm environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin 51(1–7):580-589.
2005 - Survivorship of coral juveniles in a fish farm environment

Petersen D, Laterveer M, and Schuhmacher H (2005) Spatial and temporal variation in larval settlement of reefbuilding corals in mariculture. Aquaculture 249(1-4):317-327.
2005 - Spatial and temporal variation in larval settlement of reefbuilding corals in mariculture

Petersen D, Schuhmacher H (2005) Korallen-Nachzucht im Aquarium: Chancen für den Arten- und Biotopschutz. Biologie unserer Zeit 3: 200-206.
2005 - Korallen-Nachzucht im Aquarium: Chancen für den Arten- und Biotopschutz

Petersen D, Laterveer M, and Schuhmacher H (2005) Innovative substrate tiles to spatially control larvae settlement in coral culture. Marine Biology 146(5): 937 – 942.
2005 - Innovative substrate tiles to spatially control larvae settlement in coral culture

Petersen D, Hatta M, Laterveer M, and Van Bergen D (2005) Ex situ transportation of coral larvae for research, conservation and aquaculture. Coral Reefs 24(3):510-513.
2005 - Ex situ transportation of coral larvae for research, conservation and aquaculture

Hatta M (2005) An affair in the morning after mass spawning. Coral Reefs 24: 102.
2005 - An affair in the morning after mass spawning

Petersen D, Laterveer M, Van Bergen D, and Kuenen M (2004) Transportation techniques for massive scleractinian corals. Zoo Biology 23(2): 165-176.
2004 - Transportation techniques for massive scleractinian corals

Save our future - protect coral reefs

Mail to info@secore.org or fill out the form

SECORE International, Inc.
4673 Northwest Parkway Hilliard
Ohio, 43026
USA
phone: +1 - 614 - 969 - 3150

giving coral reefs a future

our mission: creating and sharing the tools and technologies to sustainably restore coral reefs worldwide