Saving the World's Coral Reefs

Since 2014, CORAL has awarded the CORAL Conservation Prize to an extraordinary leader within the coral reef conservation community; we are pleased to introduce Dr. Ruben Torres as our 2017 Prize winner.

“The CORAL Conservation Prize is a unique opportunity to recognize leaders in coral reef conservation who embody CORAL’s mission to unite communities to save coral reef,” said Dr. Michael Webster, Executive Director at CORAL. “This year, we will celebrate Dr. Ruben Torres, for his passion, commitment to partnerships and proven success protecting and saving coral reefs in the Dominican Republic.”

Over the past 20 years, Dr. Ruben Torres has emerged as a leader in protecting coral reefs by partnering with local fishermen, hotels, students and volunteers. He has brought coral reef conservation and awareness to a new level in the Dominican Republic by managing marine protected areas, promoting sustainable seafood and contributing to new national conservation policies.

Ruben has a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of Miami and B.S. in Biology from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. He is currently the Caribbean Regional Coordinator for Reef Check International and founder and President of Reef Check Dominican Republic. His other activities include founder and CEO of Torres Environmental Consulting (TEC UNLIMITED), a member of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Lionfish Committee as well as the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. Rubens is also a mentor for the Caribbean Marine Protected Area Managers Network of the United Nations Environmental Programme and a certified PADI SCUBA diving and Emergency First Response Instructor.

Ruben’s passion for community leadership in coral reef conservation has helped save coral reefs in the Dominican Republic and serves as an inspiration to ocean lovers and communities who depend on coral reefs.