Honouring global oceans on World Ocean Day, The Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) and local operators from the Coral Nurture Program (CNP) joined forces to participate in Coralpalooza earlier this month.
Created by American Coral Restoration Foundation, Coralpalooza encourages the planting of corals in global oceans.
The GBRF and the Coral Nurture Program works in collaboration with marine scientists and local tourism operators, particularly Red Cat Adventures, Kiana Sail and Dive and Ocean Rafting.
On June 10, they planted 6,726 finger-sized pieces of coral across the Great Barrier Reef.
3,000 of these coral pieces were specifically planted in areas of the reef where rehabilitation and regrowth has been slow following cyclones.
GBRF Managing Director Anna Marsden said, “Reefs are suffering from impacts of climate change like coral bleaching and severe cyclones. Hand-in-hand with reducing emissions, we need a range of efforts to give them the best chance of recovery.”
The coral planted by local tourism operators and CNP researchers was made possible by using an innovative tool called the CoralClip, a Queensland invention that allows coral to be planted quickly and have higher survival rates.
The stainless-steel clip works by stabilising the coral fragment on the reef, holding it there long enough to establish roots and flourish on its own.
After several months, the clip will corrode naturally or will be overgrown by new coral.
Dr Emma Camp, project lead and co-founder of the Coral Nurture Program, said, “This work is part of the CNP’s aim to plant more than 100,000 corals by 2024 and work with local Reef communities to develop the tools they’ll need to help key coral reef sites to adapt to climate change.”
Coralpalooza is a global effort to improve coral reefs, with 11 other countries taking part in the action, including Jamaica, Colombia, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Seychelles, Honduras, and Maldives.
“It was special, and we feel honoured to be a part of it,” said Emily Monacella, from Red Cat Adventures.
“It was spectacular to take part in something that was happening all around the world.”
Coralpalooza activities is funded by school children across Australia who participated in a Run 4 Fun program, collaborated through Australian School and Club Fundraising (ASCF).
“On behalf of the Reef, and the thousands of species of marine life that call it home, we say a huge thank you for all your hard work raising funds to restore these critical reef sites,” said Ms Marsden.
Local tourism operators and researchers joining global effort, Coralpalooza
With a goal of planting 4,000 pieces of coral, the effort exceeded expectations
Coralpalooza is a global effort to encourage conservation and regrowth of coral reefs. Photos supplied
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