The Hull Bay Restoration Project

Hull Bay is a Priority Restoration Site.

On the eastern end of Hull Bay, you will find mangroves trees with their complex roots that protect our shores from erosion and storms. Below the sea, coral reefs provide a safe haven for marine life, sustaining fisheries, tourism, and the very essence of island culture. However, both of these ecosystems are stressed because of climate change (drought, disease, more intense hurricanes, warming waters, and sea-level rise) and local stressors (pollution, development, collapsed culvert). With help from the Virgin Islands community and local partners, the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) is working to restore these ecosystems. Hull Bay has become an outdoor classroom for local school students, a training ground for emerging early career scientists, and a hope for the future.

Mangrove Restoration

GRROE USVI Mangroves was established in 2021 with the goals to monitor the health of USVI mangroves, educate the community about the importance of mangroves, and restore mangrove forests. Our work is grounded in support from our partners and the community, and couldn't be done without their help. GRROE USVI Mangroves manages one land-based nursery to support mangrove restoration territory-wide, where all three USVI mangrove species (red, black and white) are grown. Learn more about mangroves and mangrove restoration.

Coral Restoration

Reef Response was established in 2017 with the goal of jumpstarting the recovery of coral reefs in the territory by increasing coral cover and diversity. Key components of our work are student and volunteer training and increasing community engagement with coral reefs. Reef Response manages five coral nurseries to support coral restoration. Within these nurseries we grow more than 10 different species of corals, including the critically endangered Elkhorn and Pillar corals. Learn more about coral disease and restoration and Reef Response.

The Perfect Outdoor Classroom

Education is an important part of UVI's mission and Hull Bay is the ideal training ground for future scientists to learn about mangrove and coral restoration. Students are critical to maintaining the coral and mangrove nurseries and assist with research projects and outplantings. Students from Charlotte Amalie High School and the University of the Virgin Islands have helped plant mangroves at Hull Bay. Many contribute their unique strengths to the restoration work being done at Hull Bay, including partners like the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service and The Hideaway at Hull Bay.

All photos by Dan Mele.