It's no secret that the Great Barrier Reef is one of the most magnificent and biodiverse ecosystems on the planet but it has faced devastating losses in recent decades due to the impacts of climate change. Extensive scientific research has shown that nearly half of the reef's precious corals have been destroyed, largely due to the warming of the world's oceans.
Coral reefs are quite literally on the frontlines of the climate crisis, bearing the brunt of the rising temperatures and acidifying waters that are the hallmarks of human-caused global warming. The situation is only expected to worsen, as current efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are simply not enough to safeguard these irreplaceable underwater habitats.
Urgent action is required if we have any hope of preserving this natural wonder for future generations and that’s where the Great Barrier Reef Foundation comes in. Together with leading scientists and researchers, it’s developing and implementing innovative restoration techniques that are helping to restore coral reefs at impressive rates.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the ways the Great Barrier Reef Foundation is offering corals a helping hand in the face of human-induced climate change.
Coral reef restoration projects
Understanding corals
Before launching into solutions for restoring the Great Barrier Reef, it’s important to understand what corals are and how they reproduce. Although they may resemble plants, corals are actually colonial animals closely related to jellyfish and sea anemones. Each individual coral is known as a polyp, which has a small, tentacle-ringed mouth and resembles an upside-down jellyfish. As larvae, these polyps attach themselves to a suitable surface and then slowly begin to grow and divide, eventually forming the branching structures we recognize as coral.
What makes corals so unique is their ability to secrete hard, protective skeletons made of calcium carbonate - the same material used by other marine organisms like mollusks to build their shells. This rigid external structure not only shields the delicate polyp bodies, but also allows certain species of coral to construct the sprawling underwater formations that we call coral reefs, which provide critical habitats and shelter for millions of other marine species.
The survival and growth of corals is intimately tied to their symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae. These algae live within the coral tissue and, through photosynthesis, provide the polyps with the majority of their food and energy. In return, the corals offer the algae a protected environment and the nutrients they need. This mutually beneficial partnership is vital, as the loss of zooxanthellae (a phenomenon known as coral bleaching) can severely impair or even kill the coral if conditions do not improve.
Great Barrier Reef restoration projects
7 innovative solutions for restoring the Great Barrier Reef
Coral IVF
As the moon waxes full, coral reefs come alive with a dazzling natural spectacle - mass spawning. During this event, healthy corals simultaneously release countless tiny eggs and sperm into the water, setting the stage for the next generation.
It is during this fleeting window that coral researchers spring into action, carefully collecting the excess reproductive material from the spawning corals. These precious egg and sperm samples are then transported back to specially designed floating pools and laboratories, where the work of coral cultivation begins.
Over the course of many months, these young corals mature into vibrant, resilient polyps, ready to be transplanted back onto damaged reef systems. As these transplanted corals take root and begin to grow, they will continue the cycle of reproduction, their offspring further spreading and replenishing the damaged reefs.
This innovative approach to coral restoration offers a beacon of hope in the face of the global coral crisis. By harnessing the power of natural coral spawning, researchers are able to rapidly scale up coral populations and actively rehabilitate reefs that have been devastated by climate change, pollution and other human impacts.
Coral fragments
The biological properties of coral make it a uniquely resilient and regenerative organism, allowing for innovative methods of reef restoration and propagation. Coral's modular growth structure means that even small fragments broken off from larger colonies can be replanted onto degraded sections of the reef, where they will gradually grow and fuse together to form entirely new coral structures.
This process harnesses the remarkable capacity of coral polyps to rapidly regenerate and rebuild their calcium carbonate skeletons. Beyond simply replanting broken fragments, coral nurseries have been established both underwater and in specialised onshore facilities, where coral fragments are cultivated to produce new corals that are transplanted back onto reefs. This technique allows for the targeted propagation of genetically diverse corals, helping to restore the full richness and complexity of reef ecosystems.
Coral reef restoration projects
Cryopreservation
The process of cryogenic preservation is proving to be an invaluable tool in the fight to safeguard the Great Barrier Reef. Through this technique, marine biologists and conservation experts are able to collect and freeze small fragments of living coral tissue, as well as the delicate sperm and egg cells released during coral spawning events.
By submerging these coral samples in the ultra-cold temperatures of liquid nitrogen, their biological activity is essentially put on hold, allowing them to be stored for extended periods without deterioration. This frozen storage essentially acts as a living time capsule, preserving the genetic material and reproductive potential of coral species that are under threat.
Should a coral population become locally extinct, these cryogenically preserved samples can be thawed and used to propagate new colonies, providing a critical lifeline and genetic repository to aid in restoration efforts. In this way, cryogenic coral banks function as an insurance policy, safeguarding the future of these reef-building organisms and ensuring that their diverse genotypes and adaptive capabilities are not lost forever.
Coral clips
The Coralclip® is a revolutionary device that has significantly enhanced the efficiency and success rate of coral restoration efforts around the world. This ingenious stainless-steel spring clip provides a simple yet highly effective way to securely attach coral fragments to degraded reef structures, allowing them to take root and flourish.
Unlike traditional methods that require labour-intensive manual placement or the use of potentially harmful chemical bonding agents, the Coralclip® offers a fast, affordable and eco-friendly solution. A skilled diver can deploy several hundred of these cleverly designed clips in a single dive, each one gently yet firmly securing a coral fragment to the reef bed.
This rapid deployment capability is a game-changer, enabling restoration projects to cover large areas in a fraction of the time it would take using older techniques. Additionally, the clip's innovative design provides an ideal scaffolding that supports the coral's natural growth and attachment process. By eliminating the need for toxic bonding chemicals, the Coralclip® avoids any risk of damaging the reef ecosystem, making it a sustainable and environmentally-conscious tool for coral conservation.
3D mapping with photogrammetry
Photogrammetry allows researchers to precisely measure and analyse objects, structures and environments by converting photographs into highly accurate three-dimensional digital models. On the Great Barrier Reef, scientists are harnessing the power of this cutting-edge technology to track the dynamic changes occurring within the marine ecosystem over time.
By taking detailed underwater photographs at regular intervals and then processing them through photogrammetric software, researchers are able to generate detailed 3D reconstructions. These vividly capture the growth, recovery and survival of the reef's coral colonies.
The measurements extracted from these photogrammetric models offer a window into the complex processes shaping the reef, from the gradual expansion of coral structures to the impacts of environmental stressors like rising ocean temperatures and acidification. This vital data provides crucial insights that guide scientists' decisions on where to focus their coral restoration and conservation efforts.
Great Barrier Reef restoration projects
Stabilising reefs
Coral reefs are susceptible to a range of acute disturbances that can rapidly degrade and damage their delicate structures. Events like coral bleaching, where corals expel their symbiotic algae and turn stark white, can leave vast swaths of reef vulnerable and unable to recover. Powerful cyclones and storms can also wreak havoc, physically breaking apart corals and reducing them to rubble. Even ship strikes, where large vessels accidentally collide with and crush reefs, can create expansive fields of loose, shifting debris.
These disturbances leave behind rubble beds - areas covered in broken fragments of dead coral skeletons that are constantly churned and moved by the tides and waves. Maintaining the structural integrity of these reefs is critical, as the rubble makes it extremely challenging for young corals to take hold and grow into new, healthy reefs.
Fortunately, researchers and conservationists are exploring a range of innovative techniques to help secure and stabilise these loose rubble fields. These include deploying purpose-built structures that trap and anchor the fragments, as well as using natural materials like bamboo or even concrete to create stable substrates for new coral growth.
Boats4Corals
The Boats4Corals project is another initiative that is helping to dramatically scale up coral reef restoration efforts in the Whitsundays region of the Great Barrier Reef. At the heart of this project is the recognition that local communities possess invaluable skills, resources and passion that can be harnessed to drive impactful conservation outcomes and deliver coral larvae to degraded reef areas.
The process starts with training these community members in the Coral IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) method. This involves identifying the natural coral spawning slicks that occur annually, then collecting the coral eggs and sperm to be fertilised in floating nursery pools. Once the coral larvae have developed, the participants are taught how to release these "coral babies" directly onto the reef, seeding new growth and regeneration in targeted areas.
By empowering and equipping locals to play an active hands-on role, the Boats4Corals project is able to scale up restoration efforts far beyond what would be possible with a small team of researchers alone. It's a brilliant example of how tapping into community knowledge and capacity can supercharge conservation initiatives.
Innovative coral reef restoration projects
What can you do to help coral reef restoration?
Protecting and restoring the world's coral reefs is a critical environmental priority and there are numerous ways concerned citizens can get involved to make a meaningful difference.
One of the most impactful actions individuals can take is to focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship in their daily lives. This starts with carefully considering your own behaviours and habits, and making conscious choices to reduce your ecological footprint. Simple steps like reusing and repurposing goods, avoiding products with microplastics and cutting back on fossil fuel-based goods can go a long way.
For those looking to get more directly involved in hands-on coral reef restoration efforts, there are a growing number of organisations offering volunteer opportunities. Groups like the Coral Restoration Foundation and Coral Watch are always seeking passionate individuals to assist them with coral planting, coral nursery maintenance or educational outreach. Alternatively, you can donate directly to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to support their research and ongoing projects.