The Coral Aquarist Program
The Coral Aquarist Program has been developed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project (AZA-FRTRP) to meet the ever-increasing need for experienced and knowledgeable coral aquarists and conservation practitioners. The program seeks to build this professional resource and uses the care of rescued Atlantic coral brood stock and management of coral gene banks created in response to stony coral tissue loss disease as a case study.
The Coral Aquarist Program provides participants with the knowledge and experiential introductory foundations necessary to manage coral brood stock in land-based nurseries, using rescued Florida corals that are part of the Florida Coral Rescue Program.
The course is composed of two phases:
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Phase 1 (online training phase) An online course of robust content provided by The Aquarium Vet ®.
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Phase 2 (onsite training phase) Participants will be assigned to one of our training facilities located throughout the United States (course duration 7 days; 5 full days of instruction + 2 days travel). On-site training will be a mentored, manual-based learning experience coupled with hands-on experiential learning activities.
The AZA-FRTRP envisions a national network of coral care facilities meeting the needs of coral restoration and conservation efforts: broodstock, propagation, settlement, rearing , and outplanting.
The Coral Aquarist Program is a recognized Association of Zoos and Aquarium Professional Development Course.
Congratulations to Our 2026-2027 CAP Participants:
Ayi Ajavon — Mote Marine Laboratory (USA)
Katie St. Clair — Texas A&M University at Galveston / Sea Life Facility (USA)
Melissa Cobo — Coral Restoration Foundation (USA)
Nikkie Cox — Coral Restoration Foundation (USA)
Nichole Danser — ScubbleBubbles Foundation (Aruba)
Paige Deaton — SeaWorld San Diego (USA)
Gracie Perry Garnette — Turks and Caicos Reef Fund (Turks and Caicos)
Maria Fernanda Maya — Blue Indigo Foundation (Columbia)
Samantha Mehr — San Antonio Zoo (USA)
Ernst Noijons — Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire (Bonaire)
Jason Quetel — University of the Virgin Islands (USVI)
Davis Strobel — University of the Virgin Islands (USVI)
We are proud of our CAP graduates!
2024-2025
Alfredo Torruella - University of Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico)
Joe Hillmann - Eastern Caribbean Coral Rescue Center (Dominica)
Joe Unsworth - University of Miami (USA)
Kayla Eustace - SeaLife Orlando (USA)
Max Turnquest - Perry Institute of Marine Science (Bahamas)
Nikolas Vieder - formerly I.CARE Corporation (USA)
Sarah Wells - Adventure Aquarium (USA)
Stefana Roberts - Perry Institute of Marine Science (Bahamas)
2023-2024
Brooke Zurita - Moody Gardens and Aquarium (USA)
Chad Cogburn - Nashville Zoo (USA)
Colin Brocka - Blank Park Zoo (USA)
Gimel Morely - Perry Institute of Marine Science (Bahamas)
Krista LaForest - Formerly Nova Southeastern University (USA)
Morgan Jewell - Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium (USA)
Nick Sundin - SeaLIfe Charlotte (USA)
The Coral Aquarist Program proudly acknowledges the support and collaboration of
