International salvage company Resolve is helping to repair coral damage through a pioneering coral reef replacement system.
From its US base in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Resolve has developed a technique to grow effectively coral and anchor it to the seabed atop custom–made underwater structures.
Resolve's system involves fragmenting healthy corals, nurturing them in a lab, attaching them to larger eco–friendly reef structures, and then transplanting them back into their previous environment. These structures provide a raised, porous, yet sturdy substrate to promote rapid growth, environmental complexity, and an animal friendly habitat.
Results from a number of Resolve coral projects show that the coral transplant system is working well. The company's marine biotechnicians measure the growing coral regularly to gain an approximation of the growth levels. When initially placed back in their natural environments, the survival rates are good and technicians have reported more than 96 percent survival rates on recent projects.
Coral reef damage is a big concern for the shipping industry. Only last week, the insurer of a Panama–flagged tanker which struck a reef in the Caribbean agreed to pay the high cost of replacing the damaged coral. This was one of seven such incidents in the past month.
"With growing concerns and severe government penalties for environmental damage Resolve feels it is imperative to identify opportunities to restore and reinforce these fragile ecosystems through reef repair and reef augmentation whenever possible," said Joe Farrell, President of Resolve.