Titouan Bernicot
Passionate advocate for marine life
Titouan Bernicot is an ocean conservationist from French Polynesia celebrated for his efforts to restore coral reefs through his initiative, Coral Gardeners.
We are not all marine biologists, but we have spent thousands of hours under the surface. We see things, we observe things, we learn things.
Titouan Bernicot
Championing marine conservation
Titouan Bernicot has emerged as a passionate advocate for the protection of our oceans, with a particular focus on reef conservation.
As the young founder of Coral Gardeners, an organization dedicated to restoring and preserving coral ecosystems, he is directly combating the effects of climate change on marine life.
Innovating to save the reefs
Born and raised in French Polynesia, Bernicot’s love for the ocean began at an early age.
In 2015, at the age of 16, he noticed alarming changes to his local reef, particularly the whitening of corals due to bleaching. This sparked a mission to understand and combat coral degradation, leading him to found Coral Gardeners in 2017 with the aim of saving coral reefs. What began as a small group of local young people concerned about their reef’s rapid deterioration has grown into an international collective of advocates, scientists and engineers dedicated to revolutionizing ocean conservation.
Through innovative restoration techniques and community engagement, Bernicot and his team have planted tens of thousands of corals at Mo’orea, aiming to restore the reef’s health. But Bernicot’s vision extends beyond the standard, labour-intensive restoration methods. He has spearheaded the development of CG Labs, an initiative focused on creating technological solutions for coral conservation. This includes ReefOS, a platform connecting reefs to smartphones and computers for efficient monitoring. Bernicot’s approach combines traditional knowledge with modern technology, aiming to connect conservation projects globally and scale up coral reef preservation efforts.
Bernicot’s ambitions for Coral Gardeners are far-reaching. He aims to plant 1 million corals around the world and share the story of reef conservation with 1 billion people in the years to come. His work has garnered support from major organizations, including Rolex through its Perpetual Planet Initiative, which recognize his innovative approach to conservation and potential to inspire younger generations.
Titouan Bernicot became a Rolex Testimonee in 2022.