Photo: July 2022
Mars Sustainable Solutions deploys resilience-informed recovery approach in response to coral disease outbreak across reefs in Spermonde Archipelago
In line with its commitment to transparency and pioneering coral restoration, Mars, Incorporated today shared an update on a recent regional coral disease outbreak identified in the Spermonde Archipelago in March 2026, where multiple reefs, including HOPE Reef, have been affected.
In response to the outbreak, the Mars Sustainable Solutions (MSS) team deployed an urgent response team who developed and implemented containment, monitoring, research, and resilience-informed recovery strategies. Based on monitoring to date, the team is seeing indications consistent with containment and/or natural decline in some areas. Recovery planning is underway; the duration of recovery will vary by site and will be informed by ongoing monitoring and research.
“With the growing pressures of long-term climate change, combined with increasingly frequent short-term environmental shocks, many of which remain difficult to predict, the world’s coral reefs face unprecedented challenges. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we learn from events like these to better understand which species demonstrated resilience, which were most vulnerable, and how we can apply this knowledge to rebuild reefs that are better equipped to withstand future environmental stress,” said David Smith, Senior Director, Mars Sustainable Solutions. “Our focus is not only on restoring what has been lost, but on developing forward-looking, science‑informed approaches intended to improve resilience in restored reef systems by combining both resistance to stress and the capacity for rapid recovery after disturbance.”
Mars has initiated thorough research to understand the factors that contributed to the outbreak. The Mars Sustainable Solutions team is exploring partnerships with third-party scientific researchers and institutions to ensure comprehensive and objective analysis.
Initial monitoring confirms that while some areas of the reef have been affected, the impact is variable. Importantly, observation to date indicates the physical structure remains largely intact and fish communities appear broadly present, which can support recovery. The team will continue to monitor the reef over time.
This event is a stark reminder of the volatility and the complexities involved in restoring critical ecosystems, which are so important for the long-term health of our oceans. Mars is dedicated to turning these challenges into actionable knowledge to help build a more resilient future for our world’s oceans.
“It’s critical that we focus not only on building reefs that can withstand predicted environmental pressures, but also on ensuring they are capable of coping with unpredictable shocks and recovering quickly, while maintaining critical ecosystem function,” said Smith. “This is the reality we now face, and we are committed to confronting these challenges head on to help ensure reefs continue to support biodiversity and coastal communities in an increasingly uncertain world.”
In response to this event, Mars Sustainable Solutions is developing a multi-faceted action plan that will be shared publicly upon completion. This plan will include:
- Monitoring: MSS will continue to monitor the progression and recovery of affected reefs across all affected sites.
- A Clear Path to Restoration: A detailed roadmap with measurable milestones for the reef's recovery.
- Continued Scientific and Community Partnerships: Mars is collaborating with third-party scientific researchers and institutions to develop a robust science strategy to maximize our understanding of the disease and its impacts. This research will ultimately inform how we can develop future restoration approaches to combat or mitigate future events.
- Ongoing Public Updates: A commitment to share progress and key learnings from the restoration and recovery process at regular intervals, including updates at the six-month and one-year marks.
"For over a decade, Mars has been dedicated to pioneering methods to restore our world's vital coral reefs. Events like this are a reminder of the complexities we face in a changing world, but our resolve is stronger than ever," said Smith. "This is a pivotal moment for restoration science. We are focused on monitoring the ecosystem's natural recovery and using this as an opportunity to develop new tools that will help us build more resilient reefs for the future."
The Sheba Hope Grows™ program, a key supporter of the MSS global reef restoration efforts, remains a proud partner in this long-term journey, funding restoration efforts in Indonesia, as well as in 11 other countries. Learnings will be shared across the wider network and used to inform approaches at other sites, where relevant
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