FROM NURSERY TO REEF

The future of coral reefs is uncertain. Rising ocean temperatures and repeated bleaching events threaten their survival, endangering all the coral reefs globally. That’s why the MUI team started a new project: coral microfragmentation. Alongside our new aquarium system, Coral Cove, which can hold up to 10,000 corals, the team hopes to make a difference and to give a second chance for our reefs in Laamu.

For years, our team has been dedicated to larval restoration, a method that enhances genetic diversity by releasing coral larvae onto reefs. While this technique is crucial, it takes several years for baby corals to mature and contribute to reef recovery. With microfragmentation, we can accelerate this process, by cutting a mature coral into smaller fragments and allowing these tiny pieces to develop into full-sized colonies much faster. And once they reach maturity, they will spawn, adding to the natural reproductive cycle of the reef.

One of our most exciting breakthroughs has been with Galaxea corals. Microfragmented at the end of June 2024, these coral fragments have more than doubled in size in just eight months! Now, for the first time, these microfragmented corals are ready to return to the ocean.

With excitement and hope, our team has planted 13 Galaxea corals onto our house reef. This marks the beginning of a new restoration efforts. Currently, Coral Cove has 700 corals, our team is working tirelessly to microfragment more corals, with plans to plant even more onto the reef later this year. Through the combined power of larval restoration and microfragmentation, we are determined to make a difference—one coral at a time.

Together, we’re not just restoring reefs; we’re giving them a future.