Coraliculture

Coral aquaculture, also known as coral farming or coral gardening, is the cultivation of corals for commercial purposes or coral reef restoration. Aquaculture is showing promise as a tool for restoring coral reefs, which are dying off around the world. The process protects young corals while they are most at risk of dying. Small corals are propagated in nurseries and then replanted on the reef. Coral is also farmed by scientists for research, by businesses for the live and ornamental coral trade, and by private reef aquarium hobbyists. Coral reef farming involves extracting a part of a coral colony or free-floating larvae from a reef, and growing them in a nursery until outplanting would be successful. It is commonly referred to as the "gardening method" and has been compared to silviculture as a management practice that mimics natural ecosystems. Adult corals can be transplanted onto a reef, usually in a damaged area. Coral is farmed for conservation reasons in the Philippines, Israel, Solomon Islands, Palau, Fiji, Marshall Islands, and Japan. Land-based coral farming occurs in public aquariums in North America and Europe. A healthy reef houses a large amount of biodiversity with varying species of corals. It requires herbivores including parrotfish and collector urchins that graze on infesting algae. Most corals require oligotrophic water, that is, water that is clear and nutrient-poor. Corals derive nutrients from zooxanthellae symbionts, as well as from plankton and other free-floating particles. Zooxanthellae require a mixture of white and blue light to thrive within the coral, depending on the coral type. Some corals, like the orange cup coral, do not require light, and rely on the plankton or free-floating nutrients as sustenance. Coral reefs protect the coastline from erosion and storm damage. They are important foundation species that increase biodiversity in the area by providing nursery ground and habitat for nearly one-third of saltwater fish species.