A team from the organization "Gardeners of the Coral Reefs" on the island of Moorea in French Polynesia is working to restore damaged coral reefs by growing parts of them in underwater nurseries and then transplanting them to their natural sites, in an effort to enhance the resilience of these ecosystems to the expected rise in ocean temperatures as the "El Niño" phenomenon intensifies.
A report published by CNN on Tuesday stated that the organization collects coral fragments and cares for them in marine nurseries for up to two years before reattaching them to nearby reefs, focusing on species more capable of withstanding heat, in preparation for a season expected to see a significant rise in ocean temperatures.
The report clarified that coral coverage at the "Teahupo'o" site, which is the largest of the seven nurseries managed by the organization in French Polynesia, increased from 20 percent at the start of restoration efforts to about 55 percent, after efforts began in 2020 and continued despite the widespread coral bleaching wave the world experienced in 2024.
The process begins by collecting healthy coral fragments and tying them to ropes fixed to underwater structures, where they grow in suitable conditions, then they are transferred to damaged reefs and secured using marine cement and specialized clips, which helps rehabilitate marine habitats and support the organisms that depend on them.
These efforts gain additional importance with predictions of an intensifying "El Niño" phenomenon, a natural climate event linked to rising sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean, which can affect weather patterns and ocean temperatures on a wide scale, thereby increasing pressure on coral reefs that already face risks of bleaching caused by thermal stress.
The "Gardeners of the Coral Reefs" organization is a non-profit environmental organization founded in 2017 on the island of Moorea in French Polynesia. It works to restore coral reefs by growing parts of them in marine nurseries and reattaching them to their natural sites, alongside implementing research and awareness programs to protect marine ecosystems.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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