Coral Reef Conservation
& Action Library

A centralized repository connecting scientists and advocates with the highest-utility resources. Access global datasets, standardized monitoring protocols, funding opportunities, and inspiring documentaries to accelerate your impact.

🎓 Learn & Train: Education & Scholarships
Courses & MOOCs
Reef Resilience Network Course Essential training for managers on bleaching, restoration, and fisheries management. UNESCO Ocean Literacy Toolkits and courses designed to integrate ocean science into schools and communities. Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) Library Collection of scientific articles, guides, and whitepapers on coral conservation, covering restoration best practices, watershed management, climate adaptation, and more to support evidence-based protection efforts.
Certifications
Conservation Diver Dive Training the next generation of marine conservationists. REEF Scuba co-founders met at their New Haven location in Thailand! Reef Check EcoDiver Cert Become certified to conduct standardized scientific surveys on reef health globally. Green Fins Cert Internationally recognized environmental standards for sustainable diving and snorkeling, providing a code of conduct, certification, and digital tools to protect coral reefs from tourism impacts. PADI AWARE Dive Diver-focused specialty courses on debris, shark conservation, and coral health.
Scholarships
NOAA Hollings Scholarship Prestigious undergraduate scholarship including a paid summer internship at NOAA. Pew Marine Fellows Support for mid-career scientists and experts working on critical ocean challenges.
💼 Work: Jobs, Internships & Careers
Global Job Boards
Josh's Water Jobs Top Pick The most comprehensive daily listing for water and marine-related employment. Seven Seas Ocean Jobs Top Pick Curated list of scientific, NGO, and communication roles in the blue sector. Conservation Careers Broad listing of wildlife and ecology jobs, often including marine biology roles.
Internships
REEF Conservation Internships Hands-on marine life survey and education internships based in Key Largo, FL.
🏛️ Govern & Protect: Policy & Ocean Law
International Frameworks
International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Coral Science Global partnership dedicated to preserving coral reefs and ecosystems, offering reports on reef status, policy recommendations, and guides for integrating reefs into national biodiversity strategies. UNEP Coral Reef Unit The United Nations' arm for coordinating global responses to reverse coral reef degradation. UNESCO Marine Programme Manages the World Heritage Marine Sites, protecting the "Crown Jewels" of the ocean. High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) Major The historic agreement to protect marine biodiversity in international waters beyond national jurisdiction.
Policy & Economics
IUCN Marine Global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Global Ocean Accounts A partnership treating the ocean as a natural asset to be measured and managed in economic accounts.
🪸 Restore & Heal: Techniques & Protocols
Manuals & Guides
CRC Resource Library PDF Extensive database of best-practice guides, webinars, and papers from the Coral Restoration Consortium. NOAA Monitoring Guide Standardized metrics to evaluate the success of restoration outplanting efforts. RRAP (Australia) Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program – Leading research on heat-tolerant corals.
Innovators
AIMS Restoration Australian Institute of Marine Science's cutting-edge trials on assisted evolution and seeding. SECORE International Leaders in larval propagation (sexual reproduction) and seeding units for scalability. MARRS Reef Stars The "Reef Star" method using hexagonal steel structures for rapid stabilization of rubble fields.
🛰️ Monitor & Map: Data, Satellites & AI
Global Databases
GCRMN Data Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network – The primary international network for reef status reporting. Reef Life Survey A massive citizen-science database of marine biodiversity surveys conducted by trained divers. iNaturalist Citizen Citizen science platform for recording, sharing, and identifying biodiversity observations, including coral reef and marine species, to support conservation and research efforts. Corals of the World ID Comprehensive database of coral species with detailed factsheets, taxonomy, and distribution maps. WoRMS Data World Register of Marine Species – the primary global authority for marine taxonomy and accepted species names. IUCN Red List Status Global conservation status assessments, population trends, threats, and supporting documentation for species.
Real-Time & Tools
NOAA Coral Reef Watch Live The global authority on bleaching alerts, thermal stress, and Degree Heating Weeks (DHW). Allen Coral Atlas First comprehensive global map of shallow coral reefs utilizing high-res satellite imagery. Living Oceans Foundation Mapping Map Initiative creating the "world's largest" collection of high-resolution coral reef habitat and bathymetric maps using satellite imagery and field surveys to inform conservation and monitor reef health. MERMAID Cloud Open-source platform to collect, analyze, and visualize coral reef field data (offline capable). Copernicus Marine Service Data Global ocean variables (physics, biogeochemistry, sea ice) with products for analysis, download, and visualization. Google Earth Engine Tool Cloud-based geospatial analysis platform for large-scale satellite and environmental datasets.
⚙️ Tech & Innovation: Sensors & Robotics
Sensors & Acoustics
Flying Fish Technologies (FFT) AI/ML AI-driven reef glider that turns high-resolution benthic imagery and environmental metadata into actionable insights for reef and ecosystem monitoring. HydroMoth Audio Low-cost, full-spectrum underwater acoustic recorder. Essential for monitoring reef soundscapes. Sofar Spotter Buoy Compact, solar-powered buoys for real-time wave, wind, and sea surface temperature data. OpenCTD DIY Open-source Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth sensor for low-cost oceanography. HOBO Data Loggers The industry standard for rugged, underwater temperature and light logging.
Robotics & Satellites
Blue Robotics Affordable, open-source components for building ROVs and underwater instrumentation. Saildrone Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs) capable of long-duration autonomous ocean mapping. Planet Labs Sat High-frequency satellite imagery useful for detecting turbidity events and near-shore changes. FathomNet AI Open-source image database for training AI models to recognize underwater species.
💰 Fund & Scale: Grants & Finance
Global Fund for Coral Reefs Blended finance vehicle dedicating capital to "reef-positive" businesses and conservation. NFWF Coral Fund Large-scale grants for projects that reduce land-based pollution and restore damaged reefs. Blue Action Fund Significant grants for NGOs working on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and coastal livelihoods. Schmidt Marine Venture philanthropy supporting the development of ocean technologies with high potential for impact. SOA Ecopreneur Network Accelerator and micro-grants for youth-led ocean startups and grassroots projects. Rufford Small Grants Accessible funding for small-scale nature conservation projects in developing countries. SOS Corail Crowdfunding Crowdfunding platform by Fondation de la Mer and Ifrecor for protecting coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass in French overseas territories, supporting validated projects in monitoring, restoration, education, and preservation.
🎥 Communicate: Media & Storytelling
Ocean Image Bank Img High-quality, free-to-use images specifically created to communicate ocean science. WaterBear Network Stream The first free streaming platform dedicated to the future of our planet. "Netflix for nature." Protect Blue An agency providing toolkits on strategy, storytelling, and activism for ocean lovers. Mongabay Ocean News Accurate, up-to-date news and analysis on global marine conservation issues. Climate Visuals Evidence-based library of images that effectively communicate climate change impact.
🎬 Watch: Our Favorite Ocean Documentaries
Activism & Impact
Blackfish Doc The controversial documentary about captive killer whales that changed how the public views live dolphin/whale shows. Deep Rising Doc This film investigates the geopolitics and risks of deep-sea mining. The Cove Doc An Academy Award-winning film exposing dolphin hunting practices in Japan. Racing Extinction Doc From the team behind The Cove, this film uses covert tactics and state-of-the-art technology to expose the hidden world of endangered species trafficking and the carbon emissions threatening life on Earth. Seaspiracy Doc A deep dive into the environmental impact of commercial fishing and global corruption. Sharkwater and Sharkwater Extinction Doc Rob Stewart's life-changing films that debunked shark stereotypes and exposed the finning industry.
Wonder & Ecosystems
Chasing Coral Doc A team of divers, photographers, and scientists race to record the disappearance of the world's reefs. Inspired REEF Scuba co-founder, Graham Patterson, to quit his job in healthcare and go back to school to study marine science - be careful! :) The Blue Planet Series The definitive BBC natural history series that revealed the ocean's secrets to the world. My Octopus Teacher Doc A filmmaker forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest. Mission Blue Doc The story of Sylvia Earle's campaign to save the ocean from threats like overfishing and toxic waste. Ocean with David Attenborough Doc David Attenborough shares a message of hope, revealing how the ocean can be restored to health and why its recovery is vital for a stable planet. Omnivore: Tuna Episode René Redzepi explores the global journey of tuna, from the Mediterranean coast to the traditional auctions in Japan, uncovering the complex history and future of this incredible apex animal.
History & How Far We Have Come
The Silent World (1956) Classic Jacques Cousteau's pioneering underwater film, one of the first to use color cinematography. Sea Hunt TV Not a documentry, but a time capsule of the early days of diving. James Cameron, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Dr. Robert Ballard, and many more ocean champions have said this show was important/inspirational for them.

If we’re missing something, or if you find a broken link, please message info@reef-scuba.org. Thanks!

A scuba diver underwater reaching out to a large fish, with coral and underwater plants in the background.

“People still do not understand that a live fish is more valuable than a dead one, and that destructive fishing techniques are taking a wrecking ball to biodiversity.”

— Sylvia Earle

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REEF Scuba Fisheries Research

Overfishing is a major threat, not only to the open oceans, but perhaps especially to coral reefs. At REEF Scuba, we support global policies to promote sustainable fishing.

The best way to protect our oceans is to avoid eating fish altogether. However, we understand that not everyone can do this. For those who rely on seafood or are not ready to stop eating fish, we have gathered important information about sustainable seafood options and fishing methods. This knowledge empowers you to make choices that help preserve marine life and ocean ecosystems.

Sustainable Fishing Practices Overview

REEF Scuba created the Sustainable Fishing Practices White Paper in order to summarize our views on nearly every wild-caught commercial fishing method. When used in combination with sustainable recommendations from the organizations listed at the bottom of this page, and with REEF Scuba’s country specific analysis, we believe consumers can make better seafood choices.

Mexico Sustainable Seafood Suggestions

Below you will find our first country-specific analysis, where we overlay our criteria with that of the top sustainable seafood certifying organizations. The goal of this effort is to supply a gold standard of sustainable seafood recommendations and we hope to expand this to other countries soon.

The following organizations offer certifications for sustainable seafood. They don’t always agree, so if you eat fish, we recommend following the strictest standard.

A circular logo with a stylized fish and a person wearing a scarf, surrounded by the text 'Ocean Wise Recommended'.

Ocean Wise

Ocean Wise is a global environmental charity who work with seafood supply businesses to help them make more ocean-friendly purchasing decisions and improve the sustainability of the seafood they offer. The Ocean Wise symbol, found on menus and display cases, designates a seafood option as more sustainable. Ocean Wise’s ‘Seafood Search’ tool also provides a quick and straightforward way to assess the sustainability of different seafood options.

At REEF Scuba we believe that this tool is not always strict enough, and that’s why we take Ocean Wise’s recommendations one step further in our white paper, linked at the bottom of this page, so that you can make your own informed seafood choices.

Ocean Wise Homepage
Logo of the Marine Stewardship Council with a blue oval background, a checkmark, and stylized fish design.

Marine Stewardship Council

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organization which awards wild fisheries that demonstrate sustainable fishing practices with an eco-label that can be displayed on product packaging. The MSC is one of the most well-known seafood certification organizations, and many people trust their eco-label to guarantee the sustainability of the fish they buy. That said, many doubts have been cast about the credibility of the MSC. For further information, see Credibility of the MSC label | Ethical Consumer.

At REEF Scuba, we agree that MSC certified seafood is not the gold standard of sustainability, although we would still advise consumers to buy MSC-labelled fish over unlabeled options.

MSC Homepage
Seafood Watch logo with a fish illustration on a blue background.

Seafood Watch

Seafood Watch, a program of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, provides a detailed guide of most commercial seafood options, containing information about the species, farming method(s) and extent to which they should be considered sustainable. This seafood guide is available as a mobile application in select countries, with a much smaller printable ‘pocket guide’ available for download in countries where the application is not yet available. Seafood Watch also works with businesses, governments and other partners around the world to increase the reliable supply of sustainably sourced fish. Check out their Consumer Guides to see if they have recommendations for your area.

Seafood Watch Homepage
Circular logo with a red border, white text reading 'FRIEND OF THE SEA', and a blue center featuring a white sailboat and waves.

Friends of the Sea

Friend of the Sea is a project of the World Sustainability Organization which provides recommendations and certification of sustainable initiatives within the fisheries, aquaculture, fishmeal and omega-3 fish oil sector. The Friend of the Sea eco-label can be found on the packaging of products which have met minimum sustainability criteria set by Friend of the Sea. Users can also search for individual approved companies on the Friend of the Sea website, available to view at: Friend of the Sea Approved Companies. For people looking to eat out, the Sustainable Restaurants mobile application created by Friend of the Sea provides a tool in which to search for approved restaurants serving sustainable seafood within the local area.

Friends of the Sea Homepage

Worth Checking Out…

Seaspiracy is a fantastic film about the health of the ocean and what it means to consume sustainable seafood - is it even possible?

Coral Photo Credit: Renata Romeo / Ocean Image Bank