Boating New Zealand Boat Reviews
Reviews
Boating New Zealand News
News
Boating New Zealand Sports
Sport
Boating New Zealand Lifestyle
Lifestyle
BOAT-REVIEWS-MOBILE
Boat Reviews
BOAT-NEWS-MOBILE
News
BOAT-SPORTS-MOBILE
Sports
BOAT-LIFESTYLE-MOBILE
Lifestyle
HomeBoating NewsBoat BriefSaving coral reefs

Saving coral reefs

Bookmark post
Bookmarked
Bookmark post
Bookmarked

Transplanted juvenile coral grown in special nurseries on fibreglass trees may save damaged reefs.

Which is why scientists working with the Florida-based Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) are attempting to stop the rot by creating coral ‘nurseries’ – where juvenile coral is grown in controlled conditions before being transferred to ‘take root’ on damaged reefs.

These marine farms – in many tropical locations around the planet – typically involve coral being grown on fibreglass trees.

“The idea is to give these coral populations a fighting chance,” says Jessica Levy, programme manager at CRF. “If you don’t put back the material and diversity that has been lost, the populations are going to crash and become extinct. For reefs, you’re looking at a global extinction of the ecosystem if things don’t change quickly.”

Florida has the world’s third largest barrier reef, with nearly 1,400 species of plants and animals and 500 species of fish. But the reef is vanishing. Research suggests about half the reef has disappeared over the past 250 years. Coverage of acropora, the primary genus of reef-building corals, has plummeted by 97%.

Climate change is a major threat. In 2014 a spike in water temperatures led to coral bleaching on Florida reefs – and again in 2015, as a prolonged global bleaching event gripped the planet’s reefs. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef was particularly badly affected.

CRF has accelerated its coral replanting programme with the deteriorating situation. Partnerships have formed to provide its fibreglass trees to places such as Jamaica and Colombia. Recently, some 100 corals were successfully planted on the Great Barrier Reef using the coral tree frames.

The largest of CRF’s nurseries, near the Key Largo coast, has around 500 trees.

SHARE:

Related Articles

Comments

This conversation is moderated by Boating New Zealand. Subscribe to view comments and join the conversation. Choose your plan →

This conversation is moderated by Boating New Zealand.

Boating New Zealand
Boating New Zealandhttps://www.boatingnz.co.nz
Boating NZ is New Zealand’s premier marine title devoted to putting its readers behind the wheel of the latest trailerboats, yachts and launches to hit the market. It inspires with practical content and cruising adventures, leads the fleet with its racing coverage and is on the pulse of the latest maritime news and innovation.

More from Boating New Zealand

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race...

For more than four decades, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has brought the world...
Middle Sea RaceNewsRolex

Tūtaia Launched: Waikato Regio...

Replacing An Old Workhorse: Farewell to Maroro For 17 years, Maror...
Boat BriefBoating NewsNews

Raising The Spar: New Standard...

Emirates Team New Zealand’s Triumph: A Legacy In The Making Emirat...
AC37America's CupBoat Brief

Interim Factual Report on the ...

Incident Overview and TAIC’s Inquiry Process In the weeks leading ...
BoatFeaturesNews

Thrills and Precision at the J...

The Jet Boating NZ Mitre 10 National Rally 2024 on October 27 brought energ...
Mitre 10 National Rally 2024News

Dockside Glimpses: An Inside L...

A Walk Along the Docks Our guide, Kiwi skipper Conrad Colman, lead...
Introduction and Warm UpNewsSport

Follow Us

Weekly Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest developments shaping New Zealand's Boating world.

Social Media

Follow us on social media to stay in the loop with the latest trends and news shaping New Zealand's boating scene!

HOT OFF THE PRESS

The 45th Rolex Middle Sea Race – A Test of Skill and Spirit

For more than four decades, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has brought the world’s top sailors to Malta’s...
Middle Sea RaceNewsRolex

Tūtaia Launched: Waikato Regional Council’s New Vessel Ready For Action

Replacing An Old Workhorse: Farewell to Maroro For 17 years, Maroro has been the backbone o...
Boat BriefBoating NewsNews

Raising The Spar: New Standards Set In Historic 37th America’s Cup

Emirates Team New Zealand’s Triumph: A Legacy In The Making Emirates Team New Zealand’s imp...
AC37America's CupBoat Brief

Interim Factual Report on the Aratere Grounding: Navigational Oversights, Technical Challenges, and ...

Incident Overview and TAIC’s Inquiry Process In the weeks leading up to the incident, Arate...
BoatFeaturesNews

Thrills and Precision at the Jet Boating NZ Mitre 10 National Rally 2024

The Jet Boating NZ Mitre 10 National Rally 2024 on October 27 brought energy and excitement to the c...
Mitre 10 National Rally 2024News

Events Worth Adding to Your Calendar

Have an event you'd like to list on Boating New Zealand. Contact us with the details.

Catch all the action of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup, happening from 22 Aug to 27 Oct 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Follow along with excitement at Boating New Zealand.

FISHING

Stabicraft Te Anau Manapouri Fishing Classic, 25 - 27 Nov 2024 in Te Anau Manapouri

Extreme Boats Fishing Tournament, 29 & 30 Nov 2024 in Whitianga

NZ Lure Masters (Catch, Measure and Release competition), 3 & 4 Oct 2025, New Zealand wide

REGATTAS

NZ Match Racing Championships, 14 - 17 Nov 2024 in Auckland

Beneteau Owners Rally, 23 Nov 2024, Auckland to Kawau

Sir Peter Blake Torbay Regatta, 30 Nov - 1 Dec 2024 at Torbay Sailing Club

Rolex Sydney to Hobart, 26 Dec 2024 starts in Sydney, Australia

New Zealand Sail Grand Prix, 18 & 19 Jan 2025 in Auckland

NZ Millenium Cup, 1 - 4 Feb 2025 at Waitemata Harbour

Toyota Youth International Match Racing Cup, 26 Feb - 4 Mar 2025 in Auckland

PIC Insurance Brokers Coastal Classic, 24 Oct 2025 TBC from Auckland to Russell

JET BOAT RACING

UIM World Jetsprint Championships, 25 Jan -2 Feb 2025 at Wanaka (25 & 26 Jan) and Wanganui (1 & 2 Feb)

2024 Golden Homes NZ Jet Boat Marathon, 2025 dates TBC on Southland Rivers (Oreti, Waiau and Mataura)

National Jet Boat Rally 2024, 2025 date TBC at Oliver Road, Bendigo (near Cromwell)

WATERSPORTS

Yamaha Rollo's Marine Bridge 2 Bridge, 8 - 10 Nov 2024 Staged on the Waikato River between Cambridge & Taupiri, based in Hamilton, New Zealand

NON-MOTORISED SPORT

Waka Ama - 2025 National Sprint Championships, 12 - 18 Jan 2025 at Lake Karapiro, Cambridge

Waka Ama - 2025 Secondary School Nationals, 24 - 28 Mar 2025 at Lake Tikitapu, Rotorua

COMMUNITY

NZ Retro Boats Lake Tarawera Gathering, 16 Nov 2024 at Hot Water Beach, Lake Tarawera, Rotorua

Bay of Islands Cruiser's Festival, 20 - 23 Nov 2024 at Bay of Islands Marina, Opua

The New Zealand Sailing Trust 5 Day Sail, 13 - 17 Jan 2025 starting in Auckland

Auckland Boat Show, 6 - 9 March 2025 at Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, 15 - 18 May 2025 at Auckland Showgrounds, Auckland

Lake Brunner Classic Boats Get Together, TBC Oct 2025 at Moana

Whangārei Maritime Festival, TBC Oct 2025 at the Whangārei Town Basin

ADVENTURES AT SEA

The Norwoods World Tour

Stone Town, Zanzibar Aug 2024

This is the (liberal) English translation of an old Norwegian classic. And annoyingly, this ear-worm...
Features

Gods And Goats, Not All What They’re Hyped Up To Be

I’m not privy to the details of what my sister said in her prayer to Thor with regards to the weathe...
The Norwoods World Tour

When A Series Of Unfortunate Events Force An Unexpected U-Turn

Saturday a week ago we went to drop off a rental car we had hired to take my sister back to the airp...
One Family’s Boating Journey

One Family’s Boating Journey; That sinking feeling

What a shocking end to our summer! We never saw this plot twister coming!
One Family’s Boating Journey

One Family’s Boating Journey: Life lessons

As our two boys, Rafe and Chris, have discovered when you’re living onboard, life will throw you cur...

NEWS TIPS?
Send your photos, videos, stories, and tip-offs to ahoy@boatingnz.co.nz or call us on 022-023-7507.

BOATS FOR SALE