Coral

More than a beautiful recreational attraction: corals protect coastlines from erosion and are true biodiversity hotspots.

Empowering large scale coral restoration practices

Together with local partners and clients, Ocean Health enhances and restores coral reef ecosystems worldwide. We relocate corals from degrading areas to safe environments with favourable conditions and boost coral regeneration by gardening and breeding corals and outplacing them in existing reefs. We use the ReefGuard, a mobile aquaculture laboratory that facilitates the production of new recruits, and the Coral Engine, an underwater nursery where the new recruits and coral fragments grow into full-fledged colonies before being permanently placed at the reefs. This approach is very effective for restoring degraded reefs that have favourable growth conditions, but a limited natural supply of coral recruits.

Our coral propagation and replacement activities do not only boost biodiversity near (degraded) reefs, but provide coastal protection and boost local eco-tourism as well.

By partnering up with research institutes, governments and the private sector, we aim for large-scale coral restoration, striving to create the largest coral community in the world!

Our solutions

State-of-the-art coral laboratory

Solution

Our state-of-the-art mobile aquaculture laboratory, build to operate at the highest standard for sexual propagation of coral.

Coral engine

Solution

The combination of a-sexual fragmentation and sexual breeding techniques combined into one proven concept.

Coral relocation

Solution

Our suite of techniques specifically developed to successfully relocate coral colonies and large bommies.

Recruit

Solution

In 2018, a consortium made up of Van Oord, CSIRO, and Delft University of Technology won a subsidy from the government of Queensland (Australia) intended to further…
Directly contact Rogier to talk coral opportunities!
Rogier Wilmink
Programme Director
+31 6 11300462
[email protected]

The value of coral ecosystems

Biodiversity

Although coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, they are home to more than 25% of all marine life: 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral and over a million other plants and animals. Reefs need this biodiversity to remain resilient to changing environmental conditions and climate change.

Local communities

Healthy coral reefs are vital for the existence of local communities. They provide food and medicine to tens of millions of people per day, offer coastal protection, and bring high economic value by generating local jobs in fisheries and (eco) tourism.

Coastal protection

Coral reefs act as a natural breakwater by absorbing wave energy, offering protection against flooding and erosion as well as storms and extreme waves. Coral reefs provide direct protection for shorelines and the inhabitants of the often densely populated hinterland.

Coral reefs around the world