Conservation of coral genetic diversity through a global biorepository network

If greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, 95% of the world's shallow water reef-building corals could die within decades. Reducing global carbon emissions is critical, but progress is slow, with relief likely arriving too late. Active conservation intervention is needed now to safeguard reefs. To this end, we have created a global partnership establishing and expanding a coral biorepository alliance to maintain diverse collections of corals in biosecure facilities using three main approaches: frozen nonliving tissue samples, live coral colonies in aquaculture, and frozen and alive cryopreserved samples. This alliance aims to integrate and standardize sample types and biorepository management processes through global collaboration, securing essential bio- and genetic diversity and creating a hedge against the extinction of species and populations in the wild. In addition, this network will serve to actively support long-term coral adaptation, resilience, and restoration through the production of new coral genotypes from live and cryopreserved samples.