From fragments to reefs
CORALL GETS GREEN LIGHT TO BUILD MARINE NURSERY
The Coral Reef Restoration Alliance (CORALL) has been given the go-ahead by the Government of Barbados to establish a pilot coral nursery within the Folkestone Marine Reserve. This important milestone was announced by President of the Alliance, Susan Mahon, on World Oceans Day 2020.
She made the announcement during an online event hosted by CORALL in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“Congratulations… GEF SGP UNDP is proud to be a partner in this initiative from inception,” stated David Bynoe, National Coordinator for the Programme.
CORALL has been working towards this milestone for the past two years. In May 2018, the Alliance planted 79 coral fragments at three pilot sites along the west coast, to research if they would survive, grow, and remain in good condition. Many of the fragments survived, although some were washed away, smothered by algae and sediment, or eaten by fire worms. Those that survived have grown from tiny fragments into large healthy colonies. The fragments of Elkhorn Coral planted two years ago are now the size of dinner plates.
Brain Corals naturally grow more slowly than Elkhorns, but the Brain Corals have been the best survivors and have also grown upwards and outwards from tiny fragments into recognisable dome-shaped colonies.
“This means that coral restoration using careful scientific techniques has great potential!” said Susan Mahon. “The next step is to rescue what we call ‘fragments of opportunity’ and raise them in a marine nursery for eventual planting onto the reefs’, she added. The fragments of opportunity are those that have been naturally broken off from their parent colony by, for example, heavy wave action during storms. These fragments often stay alive, rolling around on the seafloor or become temporarily wedged into crevices in the reef.
The rescue and raising of corals is a scientific process that requires knowledge and practice, and also permission from the regulatory authorities of the Government of Barbados. This permission has now been obtained by CORALL from the Coastal Zone Management Unit of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy; and, the National Conservation Commission of the Ministry of the Environment and National Beautification.
“Members of CORALL and other members of the public are invited to participate in the monitoring of our existing coral outplants, and in establishing our pilot coral nursery,” said Susan Mahon. “The Alliance is glad to encourage everyone to participate in citizens science!”
For those who would like to learn more about CORALL and the GEF Small Grants Programme, the recording of the virtual meeting on World Oceans Day 2020 is available on the Facebook sites of both organisations.
The recording shows presentations and brief videos about the work in restoring coral reef ecosystems and community engagement activities using the Ridge to Reef approach.
The current cover photo for CORALL’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/CORALLBarbados shows the condition and size of some of the outplanted fragments taken during CORALL's most recent reconnaissance snorkel trip in June 2020. (PR)
She made the announcement during an online event hosted by CORALL in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“Congratulations… GEF SGP UNDP is proud to be a partner in this initiative from inception,” stated David Bynoe, National Coordinator for the Programme.
CORALL has been working towards this milestone for the past two years. In May 2018, the Alliance planted 79 coral fragments at three pilot sites along the west coast, to research if they would survive, grow, and remain in good condition. Many of the fragments survived, although some were washed away, smothered by algae and sediment, or eaten by fire worms. Those that survived have grown from tiny fragments into large healthy colonies. The fragments of Elkhorn Coral planted two years ago are now the size of dinner plates.
Brain Corals naturally grow more slowly than Elkhorns, but the Brain Corals have been the best survivors and have also grown upwards and outwards from tiny fragments into recognisable dome-shaped colonies.
“This means that coral restoration using careful scientific techniques has great potential!” said Susan Mahon. “The next step is to rescue what we call ‘fragments of opportunity’ and raise them in a marine nursery for eventual planting onto the reefs’, she added. The fragments of opportunity are those that have been naturally broken off from their parent colony by, for example, heavy wave action during storms. These fragments often stay alive, rolling around on the seafloor or become temporarily wedged into crevices in the reef.
The rescue and raising of corals is a scientific process that requires knowledge and practice, and also permission from the regulatory authorities of the Government of Barbados. This permission has now been obtained by CORALL from the Coastal Zone Management Unit of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy; and, the National Conservation Commission of the Ministry of the Environment and National Beautification.
“Members of CORALL and other members of the public are invited to participate in the monitoring of our existing coral outplants, and in establishing our pilot coral nursery,” said Susan Mahon. “The Alliance is glad to encourage everyone to participate in citizens science!”
For those who would like to learn more about CORALL and the GEF Small Grants Programme, the recording of the virtual meeting on World Oceans Day 2020 is available on the Facebook sites of both organisations.
The recording shows presentations and brief videos about the work in restoring coral reef ecosystems and community engagement activities using the Ridge to Reef approach.
The current cover photo for CORALL’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/CORALLBarbados shows the condition and size of some of the outplanted fragments taken during CORALL's most recent reconnaissance snorkel trip in June 2020. (PR)