Restoring Reef Coverage
Repopulation is the technique that completes the coral recovery cycle. As explained, once a coral has fully recovered in the nursery, we return it to the area of the reef where it originally lived.
Our technique is non-intrusive, meaning that no coral fragments are ever cut. We utilize colonies already on the seabed that are at risk and would otherwise die. Furthermore, no species is displaced to repopulate a coral; the coral is introduced only into available space on the reef, as every species in this precious ecosystem is vital.
After preparing the substrate, we use a non-toxic bio-epoxy to attach the coral to the seabed. This creates healthy coral coverage in areas that previously contained debris and broken colonies with necrosis.
This technique brings numerous ecological benefits, including: survival of detached coral fragments, increased live tissue coverage on the reef, higher coral larval production during the reproductive season due to a greater number of living colonies, and accelerated recovery of microhabitats for the conservation of various species living on the reef.