Healthy Reefs for Healthy People

What Healthy Reefs for Healthy People does

Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HRHP) is a non-governmental conservation organization headquartered in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico, founded in 2003 to protect the Mesoamerican Reef across Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. The organization operates as the convening node of the Healthy Reefs Initiative, uniting over 70 partner organizations spanning NGOs, academia, government agencies, and the private sector. It employs 11 people, including a core team of 7 marine scientists, and became an independent NGO in 2024 after operating under a prior organizational structure.

HRHP's core products are periodic Mesoamerican Reef Health Report Cards (first published in 2008, with the 2024 edition showing reef health improving for the first time in five years), supplemented by Eco Audits, a set of seven standardized Healthy Reefs Indicators (coral cover, macroalgae cover, commercial fish biomass, herbivorous fish biomass, Reef Health Index, bleaching, and diseases), and an ArcGIS-based Data Explorer for interactive visualization of monitoring data from 286+ sites. The underlying methodology is the AGRRA (Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment) protocol, applied through benthic surveys, fish transects, and bleaching/disease monitoring, and increasingly augmented by a machine-learning Bleaching Vulnerability Assessment Framework for forecasting bleaching risk.

HRHP is funded entirely through donations and grants from foundations and government agencies, including the Summit Foundation, Mar-Fund, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, Fond Français pour l'Environnement Mondial, Oak Hill Fund, and GBIF. All publications, data products, and infographics are distributed free of charge in English and Spanish through the website and partner network. The organization has expanded programmatically into sustainable King Crab mariculture pilots in Mexico and Belize, and uses a multi-channel communications strategy including regional partners meetings, scientific conferences, and award-winning documentary collaborations to drive awareness and conservation action across the region.

Name

Healthy Reefs for Healthy People

Legal name

Healthy Reefs for Healthy People

Website

https://healthyreefs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Healthy Reefs for Healthy People is a Mexico-based non-profit founded in 2003 that convenes 70+ partner organizations to monitor and protect the Mesoamerican Reef across four countries. It publishes Reef Health Report Cards, Eco Audits, and an ArcGIS-based Data Explorer, funded by foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Resilience & Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (BPAGABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental Data Management Platforms (EHS/EMS, LIMS, ELN, Compliance Data Hubs) (EUAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Marine conservation
• Coral reef monitoring
• Reef health assessment
• Mesoamerican Reef
• Environmental data

Headquarters

HQ city

Not explicitly stated

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: HRHP operates as a non-profit organization funded by donations and grants from foundations, governments, and individual donors. Major donors include Summit Foundation, Mar-Fund, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, Fond Français pour l'Environnement Mondial, Oak Hill Fund, and GBIF.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HRHP operates a science-based reef health monitoring and adaptive management program for the Mesoamerican Reef. Its core offerings are the periodic Reef Health Report Cards synthesizing monitoring data across four countries, Eco Audits of environmental conditions, a system of seven monitoring indicators, an ArcGIS-based Data Explorer for interactive visualization, and an Adaptive Management Framework that drives regional conservation interventions. All products and data are made available free of charge to support conservation action.

Product overview

Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HRHP) operates as a conservation initiative focused on the Mesoamerican Reef, offering a portfolio of data-driven products and services centered around reef health monitoring and communication. The core offering consists of periodic Reef Health Report Cards (spanning 2008-2024 editions) that synthesize monitoring data into accessible health assessments, supported by Eco Audits and a system of seven key Indicators (coral cover, macroalgae cover, commercial fish biomass, herbivorous fish biomass, reef health index, bleaching, diseases). The Data Explorer provides interactive visualization of monitoring data via ArcGIS. Supporting products include Press Kits, Infographic Resources, Annual Reports, and the HRHP Brochure. An Adaptive Management Framework underpins the scientific approach, enabling collaboration across the regional partner network spanning Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mesoamerican Reef Health Report Cards Periodic health evaluation reports that synthesize monitoring data from partner organizations across Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras into comprehensive assessments of the Mesoamerican Reef ecosystem, combining four indicators (coral cover, macroalgae cover, commercial fish biomass, herbivorous fish biomass) into the Reef Health Index.
• Eco Audits Environmental audit reports providing detailed assessments of ecological conditions and management effectiveness for the Mesoamerican Reef region, used to evaluate environmental compliance of tourism and development operations in reef-adjacent areas.
• Healthy Reefs Indicators Seven key monitoring indicators (coral cover, macroalgae cover, commercial fish biomass, herbivorous fish biomass, reef health index, bleaching, and diseases) used to assess reef ecosystem health across the Mesoamerican Reef region.
• Data Explorer Interactive web-based data visualization and mapping tool built on the ArcGIS platform that allows users to explore reef monitoring data across the Mesoamerican Reef region, including historical and current reef health observations.
• Adaptive Management Framework Science-based approach to reef management that enables continual improvement through applied research, monitoring, and regional collaboration to test new conservation tools and interventions across the Mesoamerican Reef region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reef health increased for the first time in five years (2024 Report Card)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Contributed technical expertise and financial support as part of the GBIF-funded project 'Consolidate and Disseminate Ten Years of Data from the Mesoamerican Reef through the European Commission' to advance data sharing and regional collaboration.
• 1% of the PlanetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership announced for supporting marine conservation initiatives.
• Conservation InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational conservation organization partner supporting regional reef conservation efforts.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal conservation organization partner in the HRHP network.
• WWFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational conservation organization partner supporting reef conservation and King Crab project.
• CONANP (Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Commission of Natural Protected Areas, Mexico's government agency for marine protected areas, multiple sub-regions including Cozumel, Sian Ka'an, Cancun, Puerto Morelos.
• CRIAP-INAPESCA (Mexico)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional Research Centers for Fisheries Investigation - National Fisheries Institute partnership for King Crab mariculture pilot in Quintana Roo.
• TASA (Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, Belize)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner re-establishing field mariculture operation for King Crab in Turneffe Atoll, Belize.
• Mote Marine LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine research laboratory partner for coral reef restoration work in Belize.
• Smithsonian InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institution partner supporting King Crab project and coral reef science.
• CORALcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoral Restoration Alliance partner for coral reef restoration efforts.
• AGRRAcoreTechnology or IntegrationAtlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment organization providing standardized monitoring protocols and data platform (AGRRA Data Explorer).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Reef World Foundation: Works with dive operators and coastal communities globally to promote sustainable reef management through the Green Fins program. Comparable as an NGO combining partner networks, monitoring, and community engagement around reef conservation.
• Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA): Coordinates standardized coral reef monitoring protocols and a shared data platform across the Western Atlantic. HRHP actually uses AGRRA protocols and the AGRRA Data Explorer, making it a near-direct methodological peer.
• SECORE International: Specializes in coral reef restoration through sexual coral reproduction and science-based techniques. Comparable as a mission-driven reef NGO using scientific research to drive on-the-ground conservation outcomes.
• Reef Check Foundation: Runs the world's largest volunteer reef-monitoring program using standardized benthic and fish transect protocols. Directly comparable in citizen-science reef monitoring and global Report Card-style ecosystem assessments.
• Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL): Global NGO focused on coral reef conservation through science, partnerships, and community engagement. Highly comparable in mission, partner-driven model, and use of science-based adaptive management for reefs.
• Global Coral Reef Alliance: International NGO focused on coral reef restoration, monitoring, and resilience-building. Comparable as a science-driven reef conservation NGO working across multiple geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): Large international conservation organization with marine programs across multiple geographies. Comparable as a partner and convener in coral reef regions, but operates as a much broader wildlife NGO rather than a reef specialist.
• International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI): Multi-stakeholder international partnership among governments, UN agencies, and NGOs coordinating global coral reef policy and action. Comparable as a convening/coordinating body for reef conservation, but operates at the international-policy level rather than field implementation.

Regional players

• Great Barrier Reef Foundation: Australia's leading reef conservation foundation funding science, restoration, and adaptation on the Great Barrier Reef. Comparable as a major reef-focused foundation combining research funding, partner coordination, and reef Report Card-style communications, but focused exclusively on Australia.

Emerging players

• Allen Coral Atlas: Provides high-resolution global satellite-derived coral reef habitat and bleaching maps, often used alongside in-water surveys. Comparable as a reef-monitoring and data platform, though more technology-driven than HRHP's in-water assessment model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HealthyReefs
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCID9MKOCqlMBkNfwU8uOmxA
• Facebookfacebook.com/HealthyReefsForHealthyPeople
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healthyreefsforhealthypeople
• Instagraminstagram.com/healthyreefs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Healthy Reefs for Healthy People