SECORE
International non-profit advancing sexual coral reproduction for conservation.
SECORE (SExual COral REproduction) is an international non-profit organization focused on coral reef conservation. It was founded in 2001 at the Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands and has over sixty supporters in North America, Europe and Japan, comprising public aquariums, institutes, and universities. The organization develops methods of captive coral reproduction and preservation, citing studies that have predicted coral reefs could be extinct within decades due to climate change.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2002
- Founder
- Rotterdam Zoo / Dr. Dirk Petersen
- Key People
- Dr. Dirk Petersen / Mike Brittsan, M.Sc.
- Focus
- Coral reef conservation
- Method
- research / education / outreach / restoration
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
SECORE was born in 2002 based on the coral reproduction research of Dirk Petersen at the Rotterdam Zoo in The Netherlands. Petersen's findings led to innovative techniques on the use of sexual coral reproduction for coral reef conservation. Established by the aquarium community and coral conservation scientists, SECORE initially focused on ex situ conservation and later also on reef restoration (in situ conservation). In 2004, Mike Brittsan, M.Sc., of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium joined SECORE to take over the leading role in the United States. Over the years, both institutions – in collaboration with other organisations – started a very successful workshop program not only to train experts in the SECORE techniques, but also to bring different institutions together for a common goal – helping save the coral reef. SECORE supports science in various fields, such as coral restoration, coral population genetics or coral cryopreservation. Together with its more than 60 supporting partner institutions, SECORE reaches millions of people to spread the word about the dramatic situation of our ocean and what we can do about it. In 2018, they were subject of coverage from VICE News for their work in the coral reefs of Curaçao.
Reader's Guide
SECORE's significance lies in its pioneering application of sexual coral reproduction for conservation, a direct outcome of Dirk Petersen's research at the Rotterdam Zoo. The organization's shift from ex situ conservation to also include in situ reef restoration reflects an adaptive approach to the predicted threat of coral reef extinction within decades due to climate change. Its workshop program, initiated by the Rotterdam Zoo and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, has been instrumental in training experts and fostering collaboration among institutions. By supporting science in coral restoration, population genetics, and cryopreservation, SECORE contributes to a multi-faceted conservation strategy. The organization's reach, through over sixty partner institutions, extends to millions of people, amplifying awareness of ocean degradation. The 2018 VICE News coverage of its work in Curaçao highlights its ongoing field efforts. SECORE's legacy is rooted in its role as a collaborative, science-driven initiative that addresses the urgent crisis facing coral reefs through innovative reproductive techniques.
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