Scientists grasp at straws to save corals from fish
Researchers trying to prevent predatory fish from devouring laboratorygrown coral are grasping at biodegradable straws in an effort to restore what some call the rainforest of the sea.
Scientists around the world have been working for years to address the decline of coral reef populations. Just last summer, reef rescue groups in South Florida and the Florida Keys were trying to save coral from rising ocean temperatures. Besides working to keep existing coral alive, researchers have also been growing new coral in labs and then placing them in the ocean.
But protecting the underwater ecosystem that maintains upwards of 25% of all marine species is not easy. Even more challenging is making sure coral grown in a laboratory and placed into the ocean doesn’t become fish food.
Marine researcher Kyle Pisano said one problem is predators like parrot fish attempt to bite and destroy the newly transplanted coral in areas like South Florida, leaving them with less than a
40% survival rate. With projects calling for tens of thousands of coral to be planted over the next decade, the losses add up when coral pieces can cost more
The cage consists of a limestone disc surrounded by eight vertical straws. The device doesn’t have a top, because the juvenile coral needs sunlight and the fish don’t face downward to eat
than $100 (Rs 8,300) each.
Mr. Pisano and his partner, Kirk Dotson, have developed ‘Coral Fort’, claiming the small biodegradable cage made in part with drinking straws boosts the survival rate of transplanted coral to over 90%.
The fish eventually lose interest in the coral as it matures, but scientists need to protect the coral in the meantime. Stainless steel and PVC pipe barriers have been set up around transplanted coral in the past, but those barriers needed to be cleaned of algae growth and eventually removed.
Mr. Pisano had the idea of creating a protective barrier that would eventually dissolve, eliminating the need to maintain or remove it. He began conducting offshore experiments with biodegradable coral cages as part of a master’s degree program at Nova Southeastern University. He used a substance called po ly hydroxy al kano ate, ab io polymer derived from the fermentation of canola oil. PHA biodegrades in the ocean, leaving only water and carbon dioxide. His findings were published last year.
The coral cage consists of a limestone disc surrounded by eight vertical phade brand drinking straws. The device doesn’t have a top, Mr. Pisano said, because the juvenile coral needs sunlight and the parrot fish don’t generally want to position themselves facing downward to eat.
Mr. Dotson, a retired aerospace engineer, and Mr. Pisano formed Reef Fortify Inc. to further develop the patentpending Coral Fort. The first batch of cages were priced at $12 (Rs 1,000) each, but the two believe that could change as production scales up.