Logan
Williams

About

Logan Williams is the U.S. Caribbean Coral Rescue Coordinator for the U.S. Virgin Islands, a role funded through Florida Sea Grant to develop and implement a regional coral rescue strategy in partnership with stakeholders across the USVI and Puerto Rico. Logan’s responsibilities include developing a Regional Coral Rescue Plan, establishing a U.S. Caribbean Coral Rescue Network, and facilitating training workshops to build capacity for coral rescue and rehabilitation.

Logan holds a Master of Science in Marine and Environmental Science from the University of the Virgin Islands, where she investigated species-specific susceptibility to white plague disease in three common Caribbean coral species and published these findings in the journal Coral Reefs. Logan has six years of experience rescuing and caring for corals in land-based facilities and previously served as the Principal Investigator for the NOAA-funded CWORI Genetic Rescue and Propagation Ark, where they developed the first indoor, climate-controlled facility in the USVI to propagate endangered coral species using artificial life support systems.

Logan also led the NFWF-funded Coral Reef Emergency Fund project, focusing on the rescue, ex-situ treatment, and rehabilitation of SCTLD-infected coral species. During their tenure at CWORI, Logan facilitated multi-agency collaborations and contributed to several regional conservation initiatives targeting ESA-listed coral species. Logan is also a co-author of the U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Reef Restoration Plan (2023), a comprehensive guidance document developed by the Virgin Islands Restoration of Coral Squad (VI-RoCS). An active member of the Virgin Islands Coral Disease Advisory Committee (VI-CDAC), Logan collaborates with federal and territorial partners, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI), Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), Coastal Zone Management (CZM), National Park Service (NPS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and other regional institutions, to mitigate the impacts of coral disease, thermal stress, and other disturbances on vulnerable coral populations in the USVI.

Projects & Specialization

As the U.S. Caribbean Coral Rescue Coordinator for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Logan works in collaboration with Noel Carrera, the Coral Rescue Coordinator for Puerto Rico, to enhance coordination and capacity for coral rescue efforts across the region. This work includes developing a Regional Coral Rescue Plan to guide restoration and rescue initiatives, establishing a U.S. Caribbean Coral Rescue Network to connect coral managers, researchers, and practitioners, and increasing community awareness of coral conservation through targeted outreach initiatives.

Logan collaborates with federal and territorial partners, including Florida Sea Grant, NOAA, and regional stakeholders, to align coral rescue strategies with broader conservation efforts. By leveraging resources, facilitating training, and promoting information-sharing, Logan works to mitigate the impacts of coral disease, thermal stress, and other disturbances on vulnerable coral populations in the U.S. Caribbean.