About Us

Mission

The Coral Nursery at The Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) is a collaborative space where science, restoration, and community intersect. Managed by the ToBo Lab, we provide stock coral to various graduate and undergraduate research projects.

Our History

The nursery began as a unique restoration effort to save wild-spawned corals that were growing on the netting of decommissioned fish pens.

Researchers in the ToBo Lab used this opportunity to launch a pilot project to determine if it is possible to farm coral and improve reef restoration using a floating midwater coral nursery. After the success of the pilot program, the operation expanded to become a central hub for coral research at HIMB.

What We Do Now

Today, the nursery serves three main functions:

1. Research Supply: Providing genetically identified stock coral to researchers.
2. Long-term Monitoring: Serving as a living history of bleaching patterns, tracked through bi-monthly 3D photogrammetry.
3. Outreach: Hosting tours, summer intensive programs, and internships to educate the next generation of marine scientists.

Support & Funding

Our work is made possible by the following partners and funders:

• Lead Researchers: Dr. Ingrid Knapp & Dr. Zac Forsman.
• Institutional Partners: ToBo Lab, HIMB, and the State of Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR).
• Funding Sources:
  • The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) — Infrastructure upgrades
  • The Seaver Institute
  • NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
  • Takeshi Tomo Trust