Marinecultures.org is taking a big step forward over the next three years!

20.09.2025

Marinecultures.org is opening a new chapter in coral restoration. Thanks to the funding and project approval from Zoo Basel, we are able to implement our plan for Larval Propagation, the sexual reproduction of corals in Zanzibar.

From Fragmentation to Larval Propagation
Since 2016, marinecultures.org has been operating coral farms in Zanzibar, on Pemba, and on the Tanzanian mainland. The starting point was the internationally established method of fragmentation: broken coral pieces, known as Corals of Opportunity, are collected, maintained in underwater nurseries, and later transplanted to damaged reefs. This technique delivers quick results but also has limits – it produces genetically identical clones and does not increase the genetic diversity of reefs. This is precisely where Larval Propagation comes in. During spawning periods, the gametes (eggs and sperm) of corals are collected and fertilized. This results in genetically diverse larvae that settle on prepared substrates and are subsequently transplanted into damaged reefs. In this way, corals with new genotypes emerge that are more resistant to climate change, diseases, and other stressors.

Collaboration with Strong Partners
Together with partners such as Dr. Ashlee Lillis from Sound Ocean Science, who serves as the technical lead of the project, and with the financial support of Zoo Basel, Marinecultures.org is currently building the first test structures to integrate Larval Propagation into its practice. The goal is to develop a cost-effective and easily applicable method that can also be used by local communities.

Long-Term Vision
With the combination of fragmentation and Larval Propagation, marinecultures.org creates a balance between visible short-term successes and sustainable genetic diversity. While fragments quickly restore degraded structures, sexual reproduction lays the foundation for long-term resilient and adaptable coral reefs.

Larval Propagation gives marinecultures.org the opportunity to rethink the future of coral reefs – scientifically sound, practical, and in close collaboration with coastal communities.

Credit all pictures: https://www.soundoceanscience.com

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