Coral Restoration Theory & Techniques
Coral Restoration Theory & Techniques
Recent studies have found that about 50% of the world's coral reefs have already been lost, and the other 50% are highly threatened. The long running philosophy of “protection is always preferred over restoration” is a luxury which no longer applies to most regions. More and more, restoration is necessary to preserve the biodiversity and functionality of reefs, and to ensure the sustainability of the resources they provide.
Our reef restoration programs have evolved greatly since our first coral nursery in 2007. We take an ecosystem approach to restoration, which means that we take a holistic approach, focusing on the long-term sustainability and adaptability of the ecosystem rather then just trying to add more corals into areas where they will not survive. This approach has proven successful, as detailed in this 2020 independent analysis of our reef restoration techniques following more than 10 years of our concentrated efforts.
Our courses are on the cutting-edge of science-based coral restoration with a focus on genetics, adaptability, and resilience. We also adhere to the code of ethics as outlined by the Coral Restoration Consortium. Participants in our program will learn all of the theory and techniques behind coral reef restoration, as well as get hands on practice in these techniques. With almost 15 years of experience, we can ensure that everybody coming through our program will leave feeling knowledgeable enough to initiate programs of their own, and confident enough in their skills to carry those projects out to completion.
Our Coral Restoration Topics Include
- Coral Gardening
- Coral Fragment Collections
- Coral Nursery construction, maintenance, and monitoring
- Out-planting corals to the reef
- Monitoring transplanted corals
- Integration of beneficial organisms
- Predator removal
- How to take a genetic-based approach to reef restoration
Prerequisites
- Be 12 years of age or older
- Be certified as an Advanced diver under a leading diving organization (PADI, SSI, RAID, etc) or an Open Water diver who has satisfactorily completed a buoyancy appraisal with a professional diver
- Demonstrate proper diving ability at an advanced Level and be proficient in buoyancy and self-awareness.
- Be certified in the Ecological Monitoring Program
Standards
- Understand the threats to coral reefs, the factors affecting coral growth, and the basics of coral reef restoration
- Understand coral life cycles, the ecological differences between the asexual and sexual reproductive cycles in corals, and the importance of maintaining high biodiversity on the reef.
- Understand the history and evolution of coral restoration techniques as well as local standards (do’s and don’ts)
- Understand the theory behind the use of coral nurseries as well as the practical application of locally and internationally developed techniques
- Perform the practical steps of building and maintaining a coral nursery
- Perform a monitoring dive to take data on the health, growth, and diversity of a coral nursery
Requirements
- Attend the coral nursery knowledge development session
- Perform 2 practical dives either/or: Coral Nurseries - (1) collect coral fragments and secure to the nursery (2) perform maintenance and cleaning (3) collect data on growth rates, mortality, and diversity Coral Gardening - Re-secure at risk coral fragments either wedging or using epoxy or securing to benthic grids
Minimum course duration 12 hours
Certification Card
Training Centers
- Hawai'i - Ocean Alliance Project
- Madagascar - MRCI
- Indonesia – Blue Marlin Conservation
- Thailand – ATMEC
- Thailand – Black Turtle Conservation
- Thailand – NHRCP
Coral Restoration Related Readings
- Coral Restoration E ffectiveness: Multiregional Snapshots of the Long-Term Responses of Coral Assemblages to Restoration
- Ecotourism and Coral Reef Restoration
- Developing community-accessible methods of increasing coral reef resilience through selective coral breeding programs
- Coral restoration: Socio-ecological perspectives of benefits and limitations
- Boat Grounding incident in Chalok Ban Kao, 2015
- Artificial Coral Reefs as a Method of Coral Reef Fish Conservation
- Resilience-based assessment for targeting coral reef management strategies in Koh Tao, Thailand
- Effectiveness of artificial reefs as alternative dive sites to reduce diving pressure on natural coral reefs, a case study of Koh Tao, Thailand
Giant Clam Nurseries and Population Studies
Giant Clam Nurseries and Population Studies
Giant Clams are important regulators of the oligotrophic conditions that coral reefs need the thrive. They are
able to filter on average 1000 litres of water per day which controls the water quality and nutrient levels in the ecosystem. This reduction in nutrients by filter feeders allow corals to thrive.
During this course students will be introduce to different
survey techniques to monitor giant clams and be taught the
key processes to evaluate and recognise different species.
We will also demonstrate the steps required to manage giant
clam nurseries and the on-going maintenance and data
collection to be done following transplanting.
Prerequisites
- Be 12 years of age or older
- Be certified as an Advanced diver under a leading diving organization (PADI, SSI, RAID, etc) or an Open Water diver who has satisfactorily completed a buoyancy appraisal with a professional diver
- Demonstrate proper diving ability at an advanced Level and be proficient in buoyancy and self-awareness.
- Be certified in our Ecological Monitoring Program
Standards
- Understand the importance, ecology, and threats to giant clam populations locally and around the globe
- Be able to identify anatomical features of giant clams in order to perform species recognition
- Learn techniques to survey and monitor local giant clam populations
- Learn techniques involving the use and maintenance of in-sea giant clam nurseries
Requirements
- Attend 1 Giant Clam Lecture
- Perform 1 survey dive specifically taking data on Giant Clam Abundance/Density, Diversity, and size distribution
- Take data on giant clam growth and mortality at the in-sea nurseries
- Perform general maintenance duties during 1 dive at the giant clam nurseries
- Complete the final quiz
- Enter data into Conservation Diver database
Expected course time about 8 hours
Certification Card
Training Centers
- Indonesia – Blue Marlin Conservation
- Thailand – ATMEC
- Thailand – Black Turtle Conservation
- Thailand – NHRCP