Lead institution:
Reef Aquaculture Conservancy – Mexico
The Blue Ocean Credits Program (BOCP), advances sustainable ocean development by identifying critical marine knowledge, building global capacity, promoting its practical application and pairing cutting-edge reef and blue-carbon science with real financing.
BOCP focuses on three pillars:
(1) Identifying key ocean knowledge by studying blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass, seaweed), monitoring coral biodiversity via initiatives like CRUWITS, and promoting sustainable low-trophic aquaculture for food security and habitat restoration;
(2) Building capacity through global workshops, collaborative research with academic and NGO partners, community-based ecosystem management, and youth engagement to cultivate future ocean leaders; and
(3) Enhancing knowledge use by developing blue carbon and biodiversity credit systems, deploying AI, remote sensing, and 3D printing for restoration, supporting eco-tourism on restored reefs, and disseminating insights via digital platforms.
Start Date: 01/11/2022
End Date: 31/12/2030
Lead Contact: Guillermo Armando Corona Herrera (ceo@reefac.org)