Abstract

Coral reefs, particularly those in the Caribbean region, have undergone or are undergoing a phase shift from coral dominance to coral depauperacy. This change has been driven by a multitude of factors including a long history of overfishing and disease. The majority of restoration programs in the region focus on direct enhancement of coral cover aiming to drive coral recovery via increased recruitment. However, with live coral cover at historically low levels and herbivore populations similarly reduced, benthic macroalgae have essentially been released from competition and are, in many areas, becoming the dominant benthic taxa on Caribbean reefs. Thus, restoration of these critical habitats must take into account the provision of appropriate settlement habitat for coral larvae. Here, the most common restoration methods are briefly reviewed, their merits and shortcomings discussed. A new restoration method involving the use of large herbivorous crabs is introduced.

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