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:French Polynesia at the Heart of a Global Coral Spawning Observation Network

PHOTOS & VIDEOS French Polynesia at the Heart of a Global Coral Spawning Observation Network Years of dedication rewarded: Tama nō te Tairoto brings Polynesian citizen science to the international stage  Papeete, 17 December 2025 The Polynesian association Tama nō te Tairoto (“Children of the Lagoon”), founded to promote the knowledge and preservation of lagoon ecosystems, celebrates a landmark year in 2025 with a major scientific publication, large-scale international mobilization, and official recognition of the work it has carried out over several years. Connected by the Reef – Te Firi A’au: a global biological phenomenon revealed through international mobilization In January 2025, the association Tama nō te Tairoto coordinated the largest citizen-science campaign ever conducted to observe the spawning of the coral Porites rus. This initiative, carried out through the project Connected by the Reef – Te Firi A’au and supported by national and international organizations including IFRECOR (French Coral Reef Initiative), ICRI (International Coral Reef Initiative) and the United Nations Ocean Decade, captured the world’s attention following the unprecedented synchronized spawning event observed between French Polynesia and Réunion Island in 2023. What looks like underwater fog in the images is in fact coral spawning: millions of reproductive cells released simultaneously, forming a milky cloud in the water. This mysterious and poetic event marks the birth of larvae that will disperse and eventually form new coral colonies. For the first time in history, the spawning of a coral species — Porites rus — was observed on the same day across two oceans (Pacific and Indian), from Polynesia to Tanzania, spanning more than 18,000 km and both hemispheres, from Réunion in the south to the Maldives in the north. Thanks to Tama nō te Tairoto’s new mobile application, more than 400 observers from 20 countries were able to record and transmit data in real time during this remarkable phenomenon. “I’ve never heard of a citizen-science project [dedicated to corals] of this scale anywhere in the world.” — James Guest, coral researcher at Newcastle University, UK (2022) Coral spawning follows an extraordinary precision, occurring exactly five days after the full moon and, on average, 1 hour and 30 minutes after sunrise, between November and April, with peak intensity in December and January. On 18 January 2025, spawning was recorded 1h22 after sunrise in Tahiti and 1h23 after sunrise in Chumbe Island (Tanzania), revealing a global synchrony finely tuned to the moon and sunrise. Similar observations were made in New Caledonia, Mauritius, Réunion, Indonesia, the Maldives, and beyond, confirming the astonishing regularity of spawning time. International scientific recognition 2025 also marked another major milestone: the publication of the first scientific article dedicated to the large-scale synchronized daytime spawning of Porites rus. Titled “Shining a Light on Daytime Coral Spawning Synchrony Across Oceans”, the paper appeared in the international journal Global Ecology and Biogeography (Wiley). It is authored by Charlotte Moritz (CMOANA Consulting) along with ten co-authors from academia, the private sector, and the Polynesian non-profit community. Drawing on ten years of observations (2014–2023) across 104 reefs on 15 islands, the study highlights the synchrony of spawning across two oceans and the influence of water temperature, depth, and light on seasonal variations in spawning time. Importantly, it demonstrates the existence of a cross-ocean biological clock in Porites rus, something never before documented at such a large spatial scale in coral species. This publication, made possible thanks to the contribution of more than 300 volunteer observers, validates the observation and data-recording protocol developed over many years by Tama nō te Tairoto and cements the participatory scientific approach led by the association. Porites rus: a reef-building coral facing climate change Porites rus is a widespread coral species found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific and in the Red Sea. A true reef-builder, it is known for its remarkable adaptability: it can take various shapes, branching, massive, plating, or encrusting, depending on environmental conditions. Capable of living from shallow waters down to 80 meters, it often grows into plate-like structures to optimize light capture. Colonies of this species can form large coral formations that serve as habitat for exceptional reef biodiversity. Unlike more fragile species, Porites rus withstands temperature fluctuations, water turbidity, and even certain bleaching events relatively well. This resilience makes it a particularly promising candidate for understanding coral responses to increasing pressures from climate change and habitat degradation.  The Power of Citizen Science: Connecting People Through Reefs Since his first observation of the phenomenon in 2014, marine biologist Vetea Liao, co-founder of Tama nō te Tairoto, has relied on a dynamic network of volunteers since the association’s creation in 2021. This community brings together teachers, divers, friends, and scientists. Across French Polynesia, many people have been able to observe coral reproduction for the very first time, while schoolchildren now witness spawning events as part of “aires marines éducatives” (educational marine areas), a program endorsed by the Ministry of Education and the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB). “When people witness a spawning event, they realize that corals are living beings, not just rocks. It’s a revelation.” — Vetea Liao This awareness extends beyond the general public: several professionals from the maritime sector now consult the association to adjust their construction or maintenance schedules in order to avoid disturbing coral reproductive periods. “The first step is observing, to understand how species function, so we can imagine how to better protect them. You can’t protect what you don’t know.” — Moevai Roche, biology teacher at Taravao Middle School, eco-delegate coordinator and board member of Tama nō te Tairoto Citizen science is emerging as a powerful driver of cultural transformation, built on active collaboration between scientists and citizens, enriched by observation, knowledge-sharing, and collective wonder. A Mobile App to Connect Reefs… and People The launch of the “Tama nō te Tairoto” mobile app, dedicated to participatory monitoring of coral and marine animal reproduction, marked an important milestone for the Connected by the Reef project. This innovative platform now enables hundreds of observers worldwide, both professionals and amateurs, to collect and share field data in real time. It has become a key tool supporting citizen science and strengthening the conservation of marine ecosystems. Now that the association has shed light on the exceptional synchronous spawning of Porites rus, Tama nō te Tairoto aims to expand its international network of observers. The goal is to continue gathering data across as many countries and territories as possible to better understand the mechanisms regulating this synchronized reproduction across oceans. Porites rus is recorded in more than 50 countries and territories across the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Red Sea. The association invites scientists, divers, educators, and citizens living near coral reefs to join the Connected by the Reef – Te Firi A’au adventure. Each observation shared contributes to advancing knowledge and strengthening the preservation of coral reefs, true oases of marine biodiversity. An Achievement Celebrated at UNOC3 In June 2025, the association was invited to showcase its expertise at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice. The immersive exhibition “Les récifs du temps” (Reefs Through Time) and the video “Moana tō’u ora”, created with students from Punaauia Middle School (Tahiti), were presented on this occasion. This artistic and educational project stands as a powerful example of the integration of science, Polynesian culture and youth engagement.   About Tama nō te TairotoFounded in Tahiti in 2021 by Vetea Liao, Anne-Marie Trinh, and Marguerite Taiarui, Tama nō te Tairoto is a Polynesian association dedicated to the preservation and transmission of knowledge about tropical island environments. It leads integrated projects combining marine science, traditional knowledge, citizen engagement, and artistic creation, to promote the sustainable management of lagoons and coral reefs. Its activities include supporting Educational Marine Areas (Aires Marines Éducatives), organizing exhibitions, coordinating participatory observation campaigns, and developing educational tools for younger generations. The association is behind the global initiative Connected by the Reef – Te Firi A’au, winner of the 2024 IFRECOR TO’A REEF Award, recognized by the United Nations through its designation as an official action of the UN Decade of Ocean Science, and supported by the ICRI (International Coral Reef Initiative). Tama nō te Tairoto embodies an exemplary model where science and Polynesian cultural traditions work together to strengthen the resilience of reefs and communities. Biography of Vetea LiaoVetea Liao is a marine biologist and photographer from Tahiti, deeply connected to the lagoons where he grew up. From childhood, he developed a strong bond with the ocean and a passion for underwater observation thanks to his father, a spearfisherman. After high school, Vetea pursued studies in the marine environment in France and Australia, where he refined his scientific understanding of reefs and marine animal behavior. Upon returning to French Polynesia, an unexpected observation in November 2014, a rare daytime coral spawning event, marked a turning point in his career. Convinced that this phenomenon held major insights for understanding coral reef functioning, he continued his observations alongside his professional activities, and in 2019, he discovered with his friends that the event was occurring simultaneously across multiple islands. In 2021, Vetea co-founded Tama nō te Tairoto (“Children of the Lagoon”) to develop a network of observers across Polynesia and better document this synchronized spawning phenomenon. He then expanded this network internationally through the Connected by the Reef – Te Firi A’au project. Today, as director of the association, he places citizen science and environmental awareness at the heart of his work. Biography of Charlotte MoritzDriven by a lifelong curiosity for the marine world and the interactions that shape it, Charlotte Moritz has dedicated her career to understanding and protecting these ecosystems. A marine ecologist by training, she studies the spatial and temporal dynamics of marine communities, particularly in reef environments, to understand how environmental conditions and human activities influence their structure and functioning. A graduate in fisheries science (ENSAR) and aquaculture (University of Rennes 1), she completed her PhD from 2006 to 2010 at the Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, focusing on the connectivity of marine metacommunities in the Mediterranean, combining theoretical and applied ecology. After a postdoctoral fellowship in Canada, she moved to French Polynesia in 2013, worked for the CRIOBE, and later founded her own scientific research consulting company supporting local research institutions. Passionate about fish, she specializes in field fish counts, which naturally led her to take an interest in corals. With strong expertise in population dynamics and synchrony in marine ecosystems, she is an active contributor to Tama nō te Tairoto and is the first author of the scientific article on the synchronized spawning of Porites rus (Moritz et al., “Shining a Light on Daytime Coral Spawning Synchrony Across Oceans,” Global Ecology and Biogeography – Wiley, 2025, 34:e70072). For any further information or to request an interview with Vetea Liao, founder of the association, or with Charlotte Moritz, lead author of the scientific study, please feel free to contact us. Warm regards.Valérie de Baecque  Valérie de Baecquevalerie@press-consultant.comTel. +34 671 66 10 12  www.press-consultant.comUnsubscribe | Update Profile | View in Browser