Project tests novel technology to accelerate coral restoration using plastic

Covering less than 0.1% of the world’s ocean, coral reefs support more than 25% of marine biodiversity, and are one of the most ecologically and economically valuable ecosystems on the planet. Despite their importance, it is estimated that 50% of the reefs have been damaged by local impacts and ocean warming due to climate change, and that this percentage is expected to increase to 90% by 2050. To reverse this scenario, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommends the planned restoration of these ecosystems. This is the proposal of the Corais de Maré project, which developed an unprecedented technology to recover native reefs, testing the potential of plastic to accelerate the growth of these species and using the skeleton of the Orange Cup Coral, which is a marine bio-invader present in several regions of the Brazilian coast.

The initiative, conducted by the Carbono 14 in partnership with the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), the Artisanal Fisheries Institute of Ilha de Maré (IPA), and sponsored by Braskem, assesses the ability of various materials, such as Nylon, Polyethylene and PET, to induce faster development of native coral, helping them gain height and increase their structural complexity. “The reef has a complex three-dimensional structure built and maintained by corals, which is related to its ability to harbor diverse marine species directly impacting the biodiversity provided by this ecosystem. Therefore, the importance of investing in technologies that accelerate this restoration process”, explains Igor Cruz, marine ecosystems researcher and Biological Oceanography professor at the Geosciences Institute at UFBA, who coordinates this study.

Preliminary tests conducted by the project team indicated that seedlings of Millepora alcicornis, a native coral from Bahia, installed in nurseries in the Todos-os-Santos bay, reached a height of 14 centimeters in two months, which is the average growth rate of this species over a one-year period. “Empirically, we have noticed this faster growth with the use of plastic, and this pace can be even faster. If the initial results of this study are confirmed, we can use this technique for reef restoration not only in Todos-os-Santos bay, but also in other regions,” says the expert.

For Magnólia Borges, manager of Braskem’s Institutional Relations in Bahia, this action is an example of how plastic has the potential to improve people’s lives and mitigate the negative impacts on the environment. “Plastic plays a significant role in this project, enhancing the restoration process of this important ecosystem. This reinforces the benefits that this material provides to society. We believe that with innovation and conscious use, plastic can offer several solutions for the construction of a sustainable future”, she declares.

Positive agenda – The technique applied in this project was created from the concern of José Roberto Caldas, known as Zé Pescador, CEO of Carbono 14, who was looking for a way to reuse the limestone skeleton of the Orange Cup Coral in the restoration of the reef. “This bio-invasive species is one of the main threats to marine biodiversity, but its calcium carbonate skeleton is a very rich, natural material. Then we had the idea of transforming this input into a structure to recover the native coral, bringing the Orange Cup Coral to a positive agenda,” says Zé Pescador.

Furthermore, the project helps to control the bio-invader, which arrived in Brazil in the 1980’s and has spread along the Brazilian coast, having been identified in nine of the 17 coastal states of the country. “The Orange Cup Coral is considered a plague throughout Brazil, which competes and causes damage to native corals, mainly due to its superior proliferation capacity, causing it to spread rapidly, reducing the spaces available for the natural species in the region,” explains Zé Pescador.

In the technique he developed, the skeleton of the Orange Cup Coral is crushed to obtain a limestone powder that is used in the production of seedbeds to grow the Millepora alcicornis. These seedlings are then planted in nurseries installed in Todos-os-Santos Bay.

Citizen science – The entire process of constructing native coral seedlings is developed with the participation of the traditional community of Ilha de Maré. For this, fishermen and shellfish gatherers attended workshops to learn the technique, integrating scientific knowledge with popular knowledge.

“The project brings community and academic knowledge together to recover the marine ecosystem. This will have a significant impact on fishing and helps the community to have a new perspective that they need to restore, and not just wait for nature’s action”, points out Alessandra Silva, president of the Artisanal Fisheries Institute of Ilha de Maré (IPA).

Milton Sales de Santana, an 82-year-old leader in the region, sees in the restoration of the reef a hope for better fishing days. “20 years ago from now it has become very difficult to fish, especially when you see with naked eye several species being extinct,” says the fisherman, who is accompanied by his son and grandson in the action.

“I will be proud to tell my daughter that I helped plant the coral, knowing that this will help us and the environment a lot,” celebrates Darlan Santana, aka Bem-te-vi, Mr. Naná’s grandson. Studies show that coral reefs benefit at least a billion people worldwide through fishing, their potential for tourism, as a source of medicines, and by providing coastal protection from tidal and wave action.