Ms. Shan-Shan Guo, Executive Director of the Delta Environmental and Educational Foundation(left 2), Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote President & CEO(Right2)、Su-Fen Chen, Director-general of the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology (left1) and Te-Hao Chen, Vice Director of the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium have signed the MoU of heat-resilient corals research collaboration.
Mote serves as a leader for science-based marine conservation policy in the United States, holding a world-leading position in scientific research for coral restoration, among 25 other research programs. The Delta’s coral restoration project, in collaboration with the NMMBA and NMMST, aims to restore ten thousand corals over three years through continued efforts in propagation and breeding.
This partnership marks the first overseas endeavor, establishing collaborative ties among the three marine authorities, and integrating lessons from Mote’s coral bleaching rescue mechanism to facilitate Taiwan’s alignment with international standards.
Ms. Shan-Shan Guo, Executive Director of the Delta Environmental and Educational Foundation, stated, ‘‘Global sea temperatures have been hitting record highs nearly every day for a year now, posing a significant threat to coral survival worldwide. The Delta Foundation sent representatives to Mote last year to observe their coral bleaching rescue mechanism. We are honored to officially collaborate with Mote this year and will provide funding to support researchers at the NMMBA and the NMMST. Additionally, we will send volunteers from Delta’s coral restoration project to the United States for exchange and learning. We hope that by enhancing coral bleaching early warning and rescue mechanisms, we can better prepare for the next coral bleaching event in Taiwan.”
Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote President & CEO, expressed, ‘‘We are delighted to have Delta Foundation as an international partner in the coral restoration project. Through the Foundation’s initiatives and exchanges with researchers from the NMMBA and the NMMST, we collaboratively expand a comprehensive understanding of Taiwan’s heat-resilient coral cultivation achievements. We will apply research and practical experience to our respective restoration areas to address rising ocean temperature by enhancing coral resilience to extreme climate events. ‘‘
Ms. Shan-Shan Guo, Executive Director of the Delta Environmental and Educational Foundation(left 2), Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote President & CEO(Right2)、Su-Fen Chen, Director-general of the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology (left1) and Te-Hao Chen, Vice Director of the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium attended the MoU signing ceremony. Delta also showcased coral restoration technology and heat-resilient corals.
Located in Florida, USA, and conducting research around the world, Mote Marine Laboratory has a nearly seventy-year history and boasts a team of over 40 doctoral-level researchers and more than 300 employees. It has been recognized as one of the premier marine research institutions in the United States, distinguished for its world-class research capacity and science education programs. The Mote team has successfully restored over 220,000 corals over the years within its Coral Reef Restoration & Research Program.
Last year, when sea temperatures in Florida surged to a record-breaking global high exceeding 38°C, resulting in coral bleaching and mortality at multiple restoration sites, Mote’s researchers worked tirelessly throughout the summer. They rescued thousands of corals from affected sites, bringing them ashore to temporary offshore workstations where researchers and volunteers cared for them. These corals were successfully reintroduced into the ocean in November.
The “Delta Coral Restoration Project” was launched in 2021 in collaboration with the NMMBA, the NMMST, and the NGO Eco-Angel. Building upon professional research, Delta has leveraged its own automation technology, equipment, and corporate volunteers to contribute to heat-resilient coral research and conservation efforts.
In addition to collaborating with the NMMST in the Keelung Chaojing Marine Protected Area, the Delta Foundation has established Asia’s first zero-carbon coral conservation center. Targeting endangered coral species recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the center not only engages in live coral conservation but also collaborates with the NMMBA to establish an underwater heat-resilient coral nursery at the Houbihu area of Kenting National Park. The nursery focuses on the transplantation of Pocillopora Acuta, a species tested to meet international thermotolerance standards. Trained and assessed Delta coral restoration volunteers are responsible for monitoring and maintenance, preparing for the next marine heatwave event.
