Earth Protect Blog

CORAL transplanting is the only answer to the decline of corals in our reefs, says Aqua Trek Mana dive instructor Asami Dantsuka.

She said coral numbers had declined tremendously in the past five years, adding that the destruction of coral reefs was a major concern of ecologists worldwide and the picturesque Mamanuca Islands was not spared.

"One of our snorkelling and diving site at Mana Island was really affected and we never go there anymore," said Ms Dantsuka.

"Crown of thorns was our major threat and it has affected most of our reef.

"What we can say is that it has helped the affected site with new coral blooming nearby the transplanting site.

"We are seeing it happening, as long as we keep educating people the importance of conservation, I think we can revive some of this affected sites.

"We have done four transplanting already with the Mamanuca Environment Society and we are still trying the best method that can fit our reef. But it is working well."

The Coral Transplanting Project was first introduced to the Mamanucas in 2009 by the Mamanuca Environment Society (MES)

MES Project Manager Betani Salusalu said the restoration of degraded reefs was considered a major reef management strategy to help remedy the negative effects of human activities on coral reef eco-systems.

"There are two major approaches to reef restoration-coral transplantation and artificial reefs but coral transplantation is appealing because it is an efficient means of turning a bare reef into a highly covered reef and there is a scientific basis for the technique.

"The primary objectives of coral transplantation are to improve reef quality in terms of live coral cover, biodiversity and topographic complexity."