In a trial at the reef’s Heron Island off Australia’s east coast, the researchers collected large amounts of coral spawn and eggs late last year, grew them into larvae and then transplanted them into areas of damaged reef.
Coral reefs around the world are under threat. Acidifying oceans due to the rise of CO2 associated with global warming; the El Niño weather system, which has led to massive die-off and bleaching of corals in parts of the Pacific Ocean. And closer to home, commerce also threatens coral: a recent port expansion may have caused serious damage to the reef off of Miami, Florida.