With coral reefs in global decline and further threatened by growing anthropogenic impacts, effective strategies for restoring these critical ecosystems are increasingly sought after. In Caribbean reefs, where disease outbreaks and fishing pressure have reduced herbivore abundances and facilitated widespread …

Shellfish are a healthy source of protein but more strict regulation for traditional shellfish fisheries and fluctuations in population size warrant a need for sustainable and more reliable alternatives. These alternatives can be, for example, the culturing of new species like hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria). …