Dr. Keisha Bahr Collaborates on Development of Coral Health Card to Protect French Polynesia’s Vital Reefs

Hawaiʻi and French Polynesia are separated by approximately 2,500 miles of the Pacific Ocean, and they have vastly different coral reef species. Corals are globally threatened by heat waves that cause coral bleaching and a loss of color and energy for reef life. Scientists have developed monitoring techniques for rapid citizen science, and coral color cards developed for Hawai’i and one in the works for the Caribbean by Dr. Keisha Bahr are serving as a model for a unique new project in French Polynesia.

Bahr, the Chair for Coral Reef and Ocean Health at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and University of Rhode Island associate professor Dr. Hollie Putnam are working with the French Polynesian-based non-profit Reva Atea to create a coral health assessment tool for the country. The country has 118 islands and atolls with its largest being Tahiti. Reva Atea is an association focused on scientific engagement and actions, collaborating with scientists, such as Putnam, who have been working in Moʻorea, French Polynesia since 2005 to share the scientific process and results locally in schools.

Through discussions of scientific needs for reefs globally and concerns locally, Reva Atea, Putnam, and Bahr co-developed the project “Toʻa Aroha” (Coral Care) and submitted it to the first French Polynesian government-sponsored contest for reef actions. The To’a Aroha card is being developed to provide citizens across the country with a way to measure and report the health of their corals.

The To’a Aroha card was recognized for its utility in November when it won the Prize for Awareness as part of the first Ifrecor Polynesia Trophee TO’A Reef 2024 Sensibilisation. This project will also be featured as part of French Polynesia’s contributions to the 3rd United Nations Conference on the Ocean in Nice, Francein June 2025.

“This project has rapidly advanced in the past six months,” Bahr said. “The motivation and the support of Reva Atea to link citizens with science has driven this project forward along with public support due to the amount of bleaching they’ve seen in French Polynesia recently.”

The card will serve multiple purposes for the nation as its development will feature cooperation between scientists, government, non-profits, and the local communities that rely heavily on the nation’s coral reefs. The project is being modeled after the Hawaiian Ko’a Card led by Bahr, which began development in 2016 and was released fully in 2020.

Aeata Richerd, the found of Reva Atea, has worked at the intersection of science, nature, and education throughout her career. Richerd has served as a head guide with the Tetiaroa Society, a research operation manager at the University of California Berkley’s marine station on Mo’orea, as the primary contact for human impacts on marine life for French Polynesia, and through eco-tours and classroom education.

“To’a Aroha is far more than just a card — it is a powerful tool for unity that embodies the collaborative efforts of researchers and scientists working together for a shared purpose,” Richerd said. “It also represents the vital partnership between the community and scientists, united in their commitment to protecting and sustaining our reefs and islands. To’a Aroha is living proof of this. Alone, we can accomplish a lot, but together we can go even further.”

Coral reefs in French Polynesia are vital as they support marine biodiversity, protect coastal communities from storm surges, sustain traditional livelihoods through fishing, and drive tourism, which is a cornerstone of the region’s economy.

What makes this project unique is instead of scientists working primarily with their own objectives in mind and presenting results afterward, they are working in  reciprocal collaboration with the local people on needs they express for their local actions. The goal is to contribute their skillset to emerging challenges on coral reefs and support and facilitate community members as citizen scientists.

“They are the owners and producers of this project, and my goal is to support the community in developing the tools they need in order to collect data and make decisions for their coral reefs,” Bahr said. “We are bringing our experience in the processes and methodologies of science in order to support community needs and work side by side in this collaboration.”

The coral reefs in French Polynesia have seen significant change in recent years as warming oceans and climate change have had an effect, and the development of this tool will be important for the country as it prepares for the future.

“Having a tool that allows everyone to observe coral reefs and track their changes over time is incredibly empowering for a community,” Bahr said. “This is a tool that can be used nationwide, providing vital support to people that depend on coral reefs for tourism, coastline protection, and their livelihoods.”