Puerto rico s coral reefs have been severely impacted by the loss of key herbivores and the spread of harmful algae affecting reef health

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Region 4, awarded $230,768.57 to the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources under the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program (CFDA 15.634) to support coral reef ecosystem restoration in Puerto Rico. The award, effective January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, funds the development of a land-based aquaculture facility on Puerto Rico's east coast dedicated to restoring populations of long-spined sea urchins. These herbivorous organisms are critical to reef health and have been severely depleted, resulting in harmful algal blooms and degraded coral ecosystems.

The project delivers conservation outcomes through captive breeding and rearing of long-spined sea urchins for subsequent release into local reef environments. By reestablishing this key herbivore population, the initiative aims to reduce macroalgae proliferation, increase coral cover, and enhance overall reef biodiversity and resilience. This formula grant supports the awardee's strategic, proactive conservation approach aligned with Puerto Rico's Wildlife Action Plan objectives to prevent further species decline and ecosystem degradation across the territory's coral reef ecosystems.

This project aims to restore the long spined sea urchin through the development of a land based facility on the east coast to support local reef recovery. The restoration will improve coral reef resilience by reducing algae increasing coral cover and enhancing biodiversity.