Jamaica's largest coral repository
Following a relentless search throughout northern Jamaica, the Derby Beach Marine Sanctuary today houses a thriving gene bank of sixty-five genetic strains of these corals in the waters off Duncans Bay in Trelawny, with demonstrated thermal tolerance potential to withstand such events.
Our small team of fishers from the Derby Beach community and local graduates from the University of the West Indies regularly visits the reserve to propagate and clone these climate smart corals with a view to re-establishing new, reproductive, heat adapted populations at this important site, towards the reprisal of their ecosystem role in the long-term.
Take a look at our end of year donor review video put out in December 2025.
Take a look at this video from our coral team detailing our full response to Hurricane Melissa in November 2025.
Take a look at our six month review video presented in June 2025.
How does it work?
Corals are re-fragmented asexually in order to produce micro-sized headstarts three to four times annually and left to grow throughout the year. Variably after two years, mature corals can be affixed to grow permanently in their natural environment, providing habitat for fishes and other marine life, generating structural complexity within the ecosystem and adding vibrancy to the underwater surroundings.
Learn about coral evolution, propagation and asexual husbandry from project co-founder Hosang with show and tell...