Coral reefs are the vibrant underwater cities that, despite only occupying 0.2% of the ocean floor, provide a habitat for a quarter of all marine species. Yet, these vital ecosystems are under severe threat. According to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, a mere 1.5C rise in water temperature could lead to a devastating loss of between 70% and 90% of the world's reefs. Some scientists even project a grim future where these reefs could vanish entirely by 2070.
Marine biologist Taryn Foster, based in the Abrolhos Islands off Western Australia, is working tirelessly to rewrite this impending narrative. In partnership with the San Francisco-based engineering software firm Autodesk, Foster has co-founded a start-up, Coral Maker, with the objective of accelerating the coral restoration process.
Coral reefs, primarily located in tropical waters, construct their hard outer shells by extracting calcium carbonate from the sea, thereby forming the bedrock of reefs. However, these crucial ecosystems are increasingly susceptible to heat and acidification, leading to a higher risk of disease and death as oceans warm and become more acidic.
Traditional coral restoration techniques, which involve transplanting small corals grown in nurseries onto damaged reefs, are both slow and expensive, offering limited aid to the vast number of reefs at risk. Foster is exploring a novel system that could potentially revolutionize this process. The technique involves grafting coral fragments into small plugs, which are then inserted into a moulded base and placed on the seabed in batches.
In a groundbreaking development, Autodesk researchers are training artificial intelligence to manage collaborative robots, or cobots, to automate the repetitive tasks involved in coral propagation. Integrating this technology into the field poses significant challenges, such as handling delicate, living coral and safeguarding electronics from saltwater. Despite these obstacles, the team is optimistic about having the robots operational within the next 12-18 months.
To fund this technological venture, Coral Maker is planning to issue biodiversity credits, similar to carbon credits. The start-up is relying on demand from the tourism industry, which has a significant stake in preserving the beauty and biodiversity of the reefs.
Coral Maker's efforts, however, are only part of the solution. Other innovative strategies are being investigated, including coral seeding for larger-scale restoration, breeding more resilient "super coral", and even geo-engineering clouds to reflect sunlight and protect the coral.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) is also playing a crucial role in this battle with a unique initiative, Reef Song. This project uses underwater loudspeakers on damaged reefs to mimic the sounds of healthy reefs, thereby attracting fish and promoting reef regeneration.
The mission to save the world's coral reefs is a monumental one, necessitating a significant investment of time, money, and human effort. As AIMS scientists stress, addressing coral reef degradation is a complex ecological issue with no single solution.
Ultimately, the future of our oceans and their vibrant coral cities will be determined by a combination of scientific innovation, economic incentives, and a global commitment to combat climate change. The race is on to preserve these vital ecosystems, the irreplaceable rainbows of the ocean.
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