Dec 17, 2018
North Male Atoll, MALDIVES
Recognizing the International Year of the Reef 2018, in this year’s final month, Coralive created a unique, 8,000-fragment-strong Mineral Accretion Coral Nursery in North Malé Atoll, Maldives. Mineral accretion technology can increase growth-rate and strengthen the resilience of corals to help mitigate against harmful effects of climate change, like thermal-induced bleaching and ocean acidification.
The completion of this coral nursery is the first phase in a 3-hectare restoration project planned for April & November 2019. The nursery will provide fragments for the upcoming 250-structure restoration effort.
Fragments for the nursery were primarily collected from a donor site where a large-scale reclamation project is underway. The Coralive team transferred “corals of rescue” that would have otherwise been smothered in sand to become part of the future island. These and additionally collected “corals of opportunity” from surrounding reefs found new refuge in our nursery.
After 1.5 months of effort by six members of the Coralive team including both international collaborators and local residents, the nursery is home to more than 8,000 fragments of 33 coral species, including branching, plate and massive species, covering an area of 250m2 (2,700ft2). The coral nursery is composed of 26 structures including a line nursery, 22 table structures, and three hexagon pyramids, resembling the same shape as the 250-structures to be used in the final restoration phase. The mineral accretion setup was completed with two anodes, which provide 25 amperes of current from a land-based power source. This highly efficient and technologically advanced setup provided by our partner Coral-AID uses the equivalent amount of energy as a 100-Watt light bulb.
About Coralive
Coralive is a Swiss-based environmental organization (CHE-311.736.420 Swiss Association Registration Number), passionate for the ocean, operating worldwide to help protect, manage and restore coastal ecosystems. Our work includes restoring coral reef and coastal ecosystems, managing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), conducting long-term environmental monitoring, creating livelihood solutions for coastal communities, and pairing all efforts with tailored environmental education programs. In each of our projects, we collaborate with local stakeholders from grassroots organizations to the private sector, to governmental bodies to achieve long-lasting results. We recognize the value of passing on knowledge and experience to activate communities and empower the next generation to invest in a sustainable future.
Media Contact: Cassia Patel
Email: cassia@Coralive
