Rescue a Reef program

What Rescue a Reef program does

Rescue a Reef is a non-profit coral conservation program operated under the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science on Virginia Key in Miami, Florida. Founded in 2015 with a team of 9, the program uses coral gardening — propagating threatened Caribbean reef-building coral species in land-based and offshore (in-situ and ex-situ) nurseries — and then outplants those corals onto degraded reefs. Its core scientific methodology is documented as low-cost and low-tech, prioritizing high transplant survival rates. The program is structured as an integrated research, restoration, and public-engagement platform anchored by three operational pillars: a research lab running active nurseries, citizen science field expeditions, and educational outreach.

The program serves recreational SCUBA divers and snorkelers as its primary customer segment, offering hands-on field expeditions led by UM coral researchers where participants conduct real-world coral research. Secondary audiences include the general public and K-12 students reached through the H2O (Hopeful, Healthy Oceans) sub-brand (art festivals, exhibits, school visits) and university students and researchers engaged in collaborative conservation projects. The program extends its reach beyond physical diving through a Virtual Reality Coral Restoration Experience that enables virtual participation in restoration activities and through education and outreach content (blog, tutorials, methodologies, "12 Ways to Help Coral Conservation").

The revenue model is non-commercial and multi-stream: (i) expedition fees charged to divers/snorkelers for experiential fieldwork, (ii) donations accepted through the University of Miami's giving platform under a designated Rescue a Reef Program Fund, and (iii) corporate sponsorship via the H2O sponsors page. Distribution is direct — expeditions booked as field experiences and donations routed through give.miami.edu — supplemented by organic social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn), an email newsletter, multimedia content, and the University of Miami's institutional network. Pricing for expeditions and donation tiers is not publicly disclosed, and the program operates on a regional (Southeast Florida and Caribbean) operating geography while claiming global research impact.

Name

Rescue a Reef program

Legal name

University of Miami

Website

https://rescueareef.rsmas.miami.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Rescue a Reef program is a University of Miami Rosenstiel School coral conservation initiative that combines coral nursery propagation, citizen science dive expeditions, and public education (including VR and H2O outreach) to restore threatened Caribbean reef-building coral species and engage divers, students, and donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Other Aquaculture (112519)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM)

Keywords

• Coral reef restoration
• Marine conservation
• Citizen science
• Coral gardening
• Reef education

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Expedition Fees: Fees charged to recreational SCUBA divers and snorkelers for participating in citizen science field expeditions led by UM coral researchers. These experiential programs provide hands-on coral research opportunities.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The program accepts donations through the University of Miami's giving platform, with a designated Rescue a Reef Program Fund for supporting coral conservation activities.
3. Sponsorship: The H2O program within Rescue a Reef has a sponsors page, indicating corporate sponsorship as a revenue stream for art festivals and educational outreach.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rescue a Reef is a citizen science-based coral reef restoration program that recruits paying volunteers to assist with coral outplanting and nursery work. The program runs hands-on diving expeditions where participants learn restoration techniques and help reattach rescued coral fragments onto degraded reefs. It complements the field expeditions with a coral gardening/nursery program, a VR Experience for public education, and the H2O youth outreach initiative.

Product overview

The Rescue a Reef program is a coral conservation initiative by the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School. It operates as a unified program combining coral nursery gardening, citizen science expeditions, and educational outreach. The core offerings include the Coral Gardening/Nursery Program for propagating threatened coral species, Citizen Science Expeditions for hands-on diver participation, and the Virtual Reality Coral Restoration Experience for immersive education. Supporting these are the H2O (Hopeful, Healthy Oceans) sub-brand featuring art festivals and exhibits, and Education and Outreach Resources including blog content, tutorials, and methodologies. The program was established in 2015 to raise public awareness and action on coral conservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Citizen Science Expeditions Paid, hands-on diving experiences where individual participants join University of Miami scientists to help outplant rescued coral fragments onto degraded reefs. Designed for certified recreational divers and ocean-interested adults seeking a science-backed way to contribute to reef restoration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Growing threatened coral species in land and offshore nurseries for active reef restoration

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRescue a Reef is an integral program of the Rosenstiel School, leveraging the school's marine science research facilities, faculty expertise, and institutional resources. The program uses the school's coral nurseries and research labs for coral propagation and restoration activities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SECORE International: Nonprofit focused on developing and disseminating coral restoration techniques, including larval propagation and sexual coral reproduction, with partner institutions globally. Comparable because it combines scientific methodology research with hands-on restoration and public engagement.
• Coral Restoration Foundation: Florida-based nonprofit that also grows and outplants threatened coral species using in-situ nurseries and citizen science expeditions. The most direct comparable in mission, methodology, and target audience of recreational divers and snorkelers in Southeast Florida.
• Reef Renewal Foundation: Nonprofit operating coral nurseries and outplanting programs across the Caribbean and Florida, recruiting volunteer divers to participate in restoration. Highly comparable in citizen science expedition model and Caribbean reef focus.

Others

• ICRI (International Coral Reef Initiative): International partnership of governments, NGOs, and scientists coordinating global coral reef conservation. Comparable as an ecosystem participant shaping funding and policy for reef restoration actors like Rescue a Reef.
• NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program: U.S. federal government program funding and coordinating coral reef science and restoration. Comparable as a major funder and policy shaper for U.S. coral restoration programs, including academic programs like Rescue a Reef.
• 1000 Reefs Project: Global initiative to survey and monitor coral reef health, with research outputs that inform restoration priorities. Comparable as a research-driven ecosystem player whose outputs shape donor and grant support for restoration programs.

Broad incumbents

• Perry Institute for Marine Science: Marine science nonprofit working on coral reef conservation and restoration in the Caribbean and Florida, with both research and public engagement components. Comparable in reef restoration focus and Florida/Caribbean geography.
• Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: Established marine research institution in Florida that operates coral restoration programs alongside a much broader marine science and education portfolio. Comparable as a Florida-based marine science organization doing active coral restoration and public-facing outreach.
• Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL): Long-established international nonprofit focused on coral reef conservation combining science, community engagement, and policy advocacy. Comparable as a broader, donor-funded conservation organization working in the same conservation space, though with a more global and policy-oriented mandate.

Emerging players

• The Reef Institute: Smaller nonprofit focused on coral reef education and restoration through volunteer dive programs in Florida. Comparable as a niche citizen science dive expedition operator, though smaller and more education-focused than Rescue a Reef.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MiamiRosenstiel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChuzcOAsTNZHwriMyAnz_uA
• Facebookfacebook.com/RosenstielSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rescue-a-reef
• Instagraminstagram.com/MiamiRosenstiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rescue a Reef program