OceanShot and PADI announce major plans for 2024

OceanShot, an innovative project focused on restoring coral ecosystems, recently announced its plans for expansion during an underwater panel at the Global Citizen Forum. The panel brought together OceanShot’s founders and partners to raise awareness about the critical state of our oceans and the importance of coral reefs.

For the first time in history, the conversation took place underwater. OceanShot co-founders, Dr. Deborah Brosnan and John Paul DeJoria, were joined by PADI CEO Dr. Drew Richardson, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne, and Global Citizen Forum founder Armand Arton. The groundbreaking session was captured in a video.

During the panel, the need for cross-sector collaboration was emphasized, with a focus on technology, government, science, and entrepreneurship. The forum also announced OceanShot’s upcoming coral reef deployment and plans for the OceanShot Lab in Antigua.

Dr. Brosnan highlighted the importance of our oceans and their connection to humanity, stating that without the oceans, there would be no us. She emphasized that protecting nature is essential for our own well-being, as the oceans provide 50% of the planet’s oxygen and have absorbed 90% of the excess heat from climate change.

Dr. Richardson expressed the dependence of the world’s oceans on our decisions and actions, especially with the current global population of 8 billion people. He emphasized PADI’s mission to create a billion Ocean Torchbearers and expressed commitment to finding innovative solutions for the health of coral reefs and the ocean.

John Paul DeJoria emphasized the shared responsibility to protect the ocean and expressed excitement about the next phase of OceanShot’s efforts to restore healthy coral reefs.

The blog post also includes an image of the underwater conference and mentions OceanShot’s evolution over the past year. The project was launched by Dr. Brosnan to restore reef ecosystems and promote the growth and recovery of resilient corals. It has since partnered with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, PADI, and the Global Citizens Forum.

AI cameras deployed on the ocean floor have shown positive results, with 36 species of fish and various invertebrates moving into the newly created habitats. The project has expanded to include 16 coral nursery trees that have grown over 3,000 fragments for outplanting. The solutions provided by OceanShot are designed to be transferable and scalable, with plans to expand further into Antigua and the United States.

The expansion includes the establishment of the OceanShot Lab in Antigua, which will serve as a testing ground for new technologies and solutions for reefs and marine life. Additionally, OceanShot plans to deploy more tailor-made coral modules in the coming year. These projects aim to restore coral reefs and create fully functioning reef ecosystems that can mitigate climate change, sea level rise, and storm surge.

Dr. Brosnan stated that OceanShot can now be deployed globally to help prioritize ocean resilience, blue economy industries, and restore biodiversity.
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