‘PITCHFEST 2020 SERIES’ EP. 8 - SAM TEICHER FROM CORAL VITA

In episode 8 of the Ocean Impact Podcast ‘Pitchfest 2020 Series’ Nick Chiarelli speaks with Sam Teicher, co-founder and Chief Reef Officer of Coral Vita.

Coral Vita, a Finalist in The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2020, are a Bahamas based startup that grows resilient corals to restore our world's dying reefs. Half of the world's reefs have died since the 1970s, and over 90% are on track to die by 2050. This isn't just an ecological catastrophe, but a socio-economic crisis. It’s estimated that coral reefs sustain 25% of marine life and the livelihoods of up to one billion people while generating $30 billion annually through tourism, fisheries, and coastal protection.

Coral Vita sells “reef restoration as a service” to customers that depend on the benefit of healthy reefs’ such as tourism operators and hotel operators. Their vision is to create an industry for large-scale reef restoration through a global network of land-based coral farms. Using these farms Coral Vita can grow corals up to 50 times faster than natural rates by utilising a technique called microfragmenting which involves breaking the breeding corals into tiny pieces to stimulate tissue growth. They are also breeding corals that are more resilient to climate change impacts, including higher ocean temperatures and ocean acidification.

In addition Coral Vita’s coral farms also function as eco-tourism attractions and education centres.

For more information on Coral Vita visit: https://www.coralvita.co/

To follow Coral Vita on Instagram visit: https://www.instagram.com/coralvitareefs/