The research vessel "Tara" departed for an 18-month expedition in the western Pacific. The team on board will study how to slow the global loss of coral. One of the project's scientific directors is Christian Voolstra, a marine biologist at the University of Konstanz.

It may be one of the most decisive expeditions for coral conservation: The research vessel Tara takes to the seas for a new project. During the 18-month trip around the western Pacific, the team will study reefs in the Coral Triangle. The researchers on board want to find out which factors make corals more resistant to harmful environmental factors – and how it could be possible to protect corals from mass extinctions worldwide. Christian Voolstra, a marine biologist at the University of Konstanz, will be accompanying the project as a scientific director.

These coral reefs have stayed strong
Although corals cover only 0.2% of the ocean's surface, coral reefs host 25% of known marine biodiversity. As true oceanic oases, they provide refuge, food, and habitat in addition to being indispensable for a well-functioning ecosystem. Massive coral mortality around the world is thus very concerning to experts. More than 40% of coral species are threatened with extinction, and 50% of global coral cover were lost over the last 50 years. In addition to pressures from climate change, corals are impacted by ocean acidification, sea-level rise, overfishing, intensive coastal development, and land-based pollution.
One of the few regions worldwide that has maintained relatively healthy coral reefs is the Coral Triangle in the western Pacific. The region is home to one third of the world's reefs and has an exceptionally high level of diversity, with three quarters of all known coral species living there. Until now, however, very little research is published on the Coral Triangle. Starting in December 2025, the Tara Coral expedition of the French research vessel Tara aims to close this research gap.
"Now is the time to act to understand, preserve, and strengthen the resilience of coral reefs. The Tara Coral expedition provides ideal conditions for doing so, since it combines a broad scientific scope with methodological standardization in a geographical focus area. Importantly, it connects different disciplines and partners", says Christian Voolstra, a professor of marine biology at the University of Konstanz. Voolstra, Paola Furla (Université Côte d’Azur), and Serge Planes (CNRS) are the team of scientific directors leading the project.

International and interdisciplinary collaboration
The expedition is a joint project of the Tara Ocean Foundation and more than 40 scientific partners from different fields. During the 18-month trip, the research vessel Tara will travel over 30,000 nautical miles (more than 50,000 kilometres), crossing six countries and making ten major stops to collect samples. At each of these stops, the researchers will have just over a month's time to gather as much data as possible. "Our aim is to collect samples and contextual data for each individual coral collected in these places as well as on the environmental conditions in its surroundings. This will help us get the most comprehensive picture possible, and hopefully, give us an answer to the question of how to prevent ongoing coral mortality", Voolstra explains. In preparation for their work, the team developed hypotheses about why the corals in this region are so resilient. In the researchers' eyes, the list of potential factors includes the upwelling of cooler waters, a greater diversity of organisms in the ecosystems or the presence of corals with pre-existing adaptations to warmer conditions.
Key facts:

• Christian Voolstra is one of the three scientific directors of the Tara Coral expedition. The professor of marine biology at the University of Konstanz also participated in the Tara Pacific expedition as a scientific coordinator.
• The Tara Coral expedition in figures:
  • Expedition period: 18 months
  • Total distance: over 30,000 nautical miles (about 50,000 kilometres)
  • 10 stops of 35 days to collect samples and data at different reefs
  • 67 participating researchers
• The Tara Ocean Foundation is a non-profit foundation that has advocated on behalf of preserving ocean life for more than 20 years by supporting ocean exploration and the dissemination of scientific discoveries. In partnership with leading international research laboratories, the foundation conducts research expeditions to study marine biodiversity and understand the impacts of climate change and pollution. Thanks to its status as a Special Observer at the United Nations, the Tara Ocean Foundation actively participates in international ocean governance.