Titouan Bernicot

Titouan Bernicot
Bernicot in 2021
Born
Ahe, French Polynesia
Occupations
  • Environmental activist
  • Coral gardener
OrganizationFounder of Coral Gardeners
AwardsTime 100 Climate 2025, Forbes 30 under 30 Europe 2026

Titouan Bernicot is a French Polynesian environmentalist and environmental activist. He is best known for founding Coral Gardeners, a group focused on regrowing coral reefs. He was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 in Europe in 2026 and to the Time 100 Climate in 2025.

Biography

He was born in 1998 or 1999.[1] He has stated he was born on a pearl farm in a tiny coral atoll, Ahe, in the Tuamotus in French Polynesia. Beginning when he was little, he enjoyed swimming, and often swam with sharks. At the age of three, his family moved to Moʼorea due to the lack of schooling on Ahe. He grew up spearfishing, diving, and surfing,[2] and was also a photographer.[3] At 16, he, together with two friends, bought a boat. They decided to go out surfing, but discovered the coral bleached and disintegrating. He subsequently began researching coral bleaching.[4]

He began doing coral reef restoration, taking and replanting coral cuttings. After dropping out of university in France, he returned to his island,[2] and ultimately, in 2017, decided to create an organization, Coral Gardeners, to do coral planting: the two friends who previously discovered coral bleaching with him became the first two members.[5] As of 2026, the organization had 80 members.[6]

The organization, under his leadership, grows super corals, which are more resilient to climate change-caused conditions, in a nursery, before planting them in damaged coral reefs.[7][8] They utilize recycled items from abandoned pearl farms to build their nurseries. They also have an in-house research lab creating apps, robots,[9] and an artificial intelligence program.[10] In addition to working in French Polynesia, he has also initiated a project in Thailand[11] and one in Fiji, where Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon participated.[12] One of the main aspects of their business model is an "adopt-a-coral" program.[13][14]

He has partnered with Apple Inc., the Hugo Boss Foundation,[15] Rolex through their Perpetual Planet initiative,[16][17] the National Geographic,[6] who has provided grants,[18] and Prada, who announced they would be seeking to expand Coral Gardeners to the Mediterranean[19] and has also collaborated on an educational model.[20] He also has advertised Coral Gardeners through a campaign starring Bailey Bass[21] and also been supported by Sylvia Earle.[22]

He spoke in the United Nations–sponsored Young Activists Summit in 2021.[23] He collaborated with North Sails for their Spring/Summer 2023 collection[5] and has also partnered with Billabong for a clothing collection.[24] He was named a Voice of Now by Harper's Bazaar in 2023.[25] He was named to the Time 100 Climate in 2025[1] and to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe in 2026.[6] He is a National Geographic Explorer.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 "Titouan Bernicot: The 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders of 2025". TIME. 2025-10-30. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  2. 1 2 One, Only. "Defender of the Reef: The ocean kid restoring coral in French Polynesia". only.one. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  3. ↑ "Coral curator: In conversation with Coral Gardeners founder Titouan Bernicot". Oceanographic. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  4. ↑ "An Interview with Titouan Bernicot of Coral Gardeners". Oh-Wake Magazine. 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  5. 1 2 Imbimbo, Luca (2022-06-04). "Sustainability is cool, sexy and revolutionary - A little chat with Titouan Bernicot from Coral Gardeners". Fucking Young!. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  6. 1 2 3 "Titouan Bernicot". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  7. ↑ Eaton, Kristi (2022-03-18). "How one group is using artificial intelligence to replant coral reefs". Fast Company. Archived from the original on 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  8. ↑ Hussey, Samuel (2026-05-21). "Titouan Bernicot is racing to outpace the decline of the world's coral reefs". Forbes Australia. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  9. ↑ Sutherland, Callum (2023-12-22). "With a little help from 'Aquaman,' this conservationist is on a mission to save the world's coral reefs | CNN". CNN. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  10. ↑ "Perpetual drive". Bangkok Post. 2023-05-05. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  11. ↑ Langronier, Noé; Willingham, Marion (2026-02-10). "Ecotourism: the new profession of coral gardeners". Il Sole 24 ORE. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  12. ↑ Martim, Rachael (March 9, 2025). "Coral conservationist Titouan Bernicot on free-diving with sharks, morning rituals, and saving our oceans". Body & Soul.
  13. ↑ Tahana, Jamie (2019-06-17). "A barren underworld: Why Pacific locals are raging against the death of coral reefs". The Spinoff. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  14. ↑ Ford, Jackson (2026-03-03). "The Coral Gardeners are rewilding the oceans, one reef at a time". The Spectator. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  15. ↑ AG, HUGO BOSS. "The HUGO BOSS Foundation welcomes its first long-term partner Coral Gardeners". group.hugoboss.com. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  16. ↑ Bunnag, Tatat (2026-04-03). "Healing the blue". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  17. ↑ "Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative brings together two ocean collectives for a better future". www.thestandard.com.hk. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  18. 1 2 "Explorer Home". explorers.nationalgeographic.org. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  19. ↑ Club, Press (2025-06-16). "The Prada Group project Sea Beyond supports Coral Gardeners to advance reef restoration and inspire global action". FashionUnited. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  20. ↑ "Prada Group's 'SEA BEYOND' Joins Forces with Coral Gardeners to Restore Coral Reefs". V Magazine. 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  21. ↑ "Bailey Bass, Alice Aedy and Titouan Bernicot on restoring corals". Oceanographic. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  22. ↑ Howarth, Peter (2026-03-20). "Reef encounter: the coral nurseries saving our seas". Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  23. ↑ "Don't be afraid to be the change, fearless youngsters tell activists summit | UN News". news.un.org. 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  24. ↑ "Billabong Partners With Coral Gardeners to Launch New Collection That Supports Reef Restoration". Authentic Brands Group. 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
  25. ↑ "Marine Biologists Doubted Him. Now, He's Revolutionizing Coral Reef Restoration". Harper's BAZAAR. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2026-07-19.
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