Coral Monitoring Program

In the final months of 2025, our coral monitoring work, in collaboration with Under TheWave and LindaBahari, received a fantastic boost thanks to Lauren, an intern from Plymouth University, who helped strengthen our scientific approach.

Together, we surveyed over 300 artificial reef structures across the MIMCA Marine Protected Area, carefully tracking coral growth, health, survival, and bleaching through underwater photography. By sampling 30% of the reef structures at each site, we discovered which species and reef designs thrive best — valuable insights that will guide our restoration efforts in 2026.

Looking ahead to the first quarter of 2026, we plan to out-plant around 1,000 new coral fragments while continuing to monitor the existing corals. Visitors to the nursery and restoration site have been amazed at how quickly marine life is returning to the artificial reefs — a promising sign that our efforts are making a real difference for Zanzibar’s reefs.

This project highlights the power of collaboration, science, and hands-on conservation, and we are grateful to everyone involved in helping these reefs recover.