SECORE
SECORE (SExual COral REproduction) is an international non-profit organization focused on coral reef conservation. The group has over sixty supporters in North America, Europe and Japan, and comprises public aquariums, institutes, and universities. Founded in 2001 at the Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands, the organization has been developing methods of captive coral reproduction and preservation,[1] citing studies that have predicted coral reefs could be extinct within decades due to climate change.[2]
Founded | 2002 |
---|---|
Founder | Rotterdam Zoo Dr. Dirk Petersen |
Focus | Coral reef conservation |
Method | research education outreach restoration |
Key people | Dr. Dirk Petersen Mike Brittsan, M.Sc. |
Website | http://www.secore.org |
Background
Based on the coral reproduction research of Dirk Petersen at the Rotterdam Zoo (The Netherlands), SECORE was born in 2002. Petersen's findings led to innovative techniques on the use 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 as well on reef restoration (in situ conservation).
In 2004, Mike Brittsan, M.Sc., of the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium joined SECORE to take over the leading role in the USA. Over the years, both institutions, the Rotterdam Zoo and the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium – 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 – help saving the greatest marine ecosystem on our planet, the coral reef. SECORE supports excellent 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 Curacao. [3]
Supporters
Asia
Ochanomizu University
Marine Research Station Layang Layang
Europe
The Deep
National Marine Aquarium
Aquarium La Rochelle
Océanopolis
Aquazoo – Löbbecke Museum in Düsseldorf
Cologne Zoo
Hagenbeck Zoo
Ruhr University Bochum
University of Duisburg-Essen
Wilhelma Stuttgart
Acquario di Genova
Musee Oceanographique
Artis Zoo
Burgers Zoo
Rotterdam Zoo
Wageningen University
Oceanario de Lisboa
Planet Neptune Aquarium
Zoo Aquarium de Madrid
The Maritime Museum and Aquarium in Gothenburg
Skansen-Akvariet
North America
Curacao Sea Aquarium
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
Aquarium in Moody Gardens
Berkshire Museum Aquarium
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park
Discovery World
Downtown Aquarium, Houston
The Florida Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium
Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology
Houston Zoo
Indianapolis Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
National Aquarium in Baltimore
National Aquarium in Washington, D.C.
National Zoological Park (United States)
New England Aquarium
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Pennsylvania State University
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Seattle Aquarium
Seaworld Orlando
Seaworld Texas
Shedd Aquarium
University of Houston
Virginia Living Museum
Virginia Marine Science Museum
See also
References
- Elleker, Lindsay. "U of A researcher helps save endangered coral". University of Alberta. Archived from the original on 2011-11-29. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
- "Expedition on corals and global warming in Puerto Rico". University of Pennsylvania - Office of University Communications. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
- "Scientists Are Breeding Super Coral That Can Survive Climate Change - VICE on HBO". VICE News. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
External links
- SECORE website
- SECORE Workshop Curacao 2011
- Mary Hagedorn and Mike Henley. Rearing Elkhorn coral at the National Zoo
- Acropora palmata larve video, Coralscience.org
- Pennisi E. 2007. Reefs in trouble - spawning for a better life. Science 318(5857):1712-1717.