The staff and Board of Advisors of RPI bring a wide range of experience to this project coming from:

• The marine conservation community, including those involved in market-based conservation efforts;

• Authors of acclaimed reefkeeping books;

• Advanced aquarists who are helping to advance techniques for captive breeding and coral propagation efforts;

• The public aquarium community;

• The ornamental aquaculture industry.

RPI's unique approach to coral reef conservation employs:

• Outreach and education activities designed to lessen consumer demand for threatened wild species and promote the use of captive-bred marine aquarium animals as a viable substitute;

• Creation of partnerships within the marine aquarium trade, public aquariums and research institutions to develop and promote captive breeding and other more sustainable programs that will displace demand for threatened wild species;

• Utilization of knowledge to influence consumer awareness and purchasing behavior.

By focusing on the marine aquarium trade, RPI’s efforts intentionally compliment the activities of other organizations to ensure that the combined strategy of the coral reef conservation community is comprehensive and effective.

Reef Protection International (RPI) was formed in early 2004 and became a project of Earth Island Institute, our fiscal sponsor, in May, 2004.