Southstream Seafoods Backs Coral & Mangrove Restoration in the Dominican Republic
Back in February, we wrote about why Southstream Seafoods invests in mangrove restoration with Global Coralition : healthy coastal ecosystems are infrastructure for the future of seafood, not a symbolic gesture. At the time, that partnership had already delivered 340,000+ mangroves planted and 34 hectares reforested along the Dominican Republic’s North Coast.
This is the mid-year update. A new progress report covering February through July 2026 shows what the partnership has added since then, and introduces a second front: coral reef restoration in Sosúa Bay, done in partnership with EcoSoluciones as well.
A New Front: Coral Reef Restoration in Sosúa Bay
1,800+ coral fragments. And growing. Alongside the mangrove work, the partnership has expanded to include coral restoration around the Atabey underwater sculpture in Sosúa Bay, where the team now maintains and monitors more than 1,800 out planted coral fragments, primarily Porites cylindrica colonies. Monthly dive surveys track growth, clear algae, and maintain the structures that support the fragments.
Per the report, the corals are showing healthy development and positive adaptation, with fragments encrusting their bases and beginning to branch out, early signs of stable long-term growth.
Mangrove Restoration: Cabarete and Goleta Lagoon, Building on 340,000+ Trees
Since the program began, Global Coralition has planted more than 340,000 mangroves along the Dominican Republic’s North Coast. This report covers what came next: 1,546 new trees planted in the Cabarete and Goleta Lagoon area so far in 2026 alone, bringing cumulative restoration in that area to 36 hectares, and pushing toward a 2026 goal of 10,000 newly planted trees.
Field health assessments confirmed a 90% survival rate across these restored plots, primarily Red Mangrove and Buttonwood Mangrove, alongside companion coastal species that support broader lagoon biodiversity.
Mangroves do double duty for coastal communities: they buffer shorelines against erosion and storms, serve as nursery habitat for marine species, and sequester carbon.
Community Impact
268 lives touched. 15 events. Restoration is not just ecological, it is local capacity building. In the first half of 2026, the program ran 15 outreach activities across three areas: 5 reforestation events, 7 educational outreach activities (coral lab visits, university exchanges, field learning), and 3 technical workshops on sustainable aquaculture and mangrove conservation, reaching 268 participants in total.
Why This Matters to Southstream
Southstream Seafoods has built its business on sourcing from certified, well-managed fisheries… Investing in active reef and mangrove restoration is a natural extension of that commitment: healthy coastal ecosystems sustain the marine biodiversity and fisheries that our supply chain depends on.
We are proud to be part of this work and look forward to sharing continued progress as the project develops.
Photo and data credit: Global Coralition and EcoSoluciones, Follow-up Report: Coral & Mangrove Restoration (Feb–July 2026).
