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Rumassala Sanctuary coral nurseries: micro-fragmentation growth rates on ceramic plugs?

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K
Kenji Reef•915 rep

How are marine conservation divers securing Acropora coral fragments onto artificial reef structures inside the Rumassala Marine Sanctuary to survive sea warming?

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4 Answers from travellers

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Coral restoration at Rumassala uses micro-fragmentation techniques on resilient parent colonies that survived past bleaching events. Divers cut staghorn (Acropora formosa) branches into 1cm micro-fragments using diamond wet saws, mounting fragments onto inert calcium-carbonate ceramic plugs using marine epoxy. Plugs are set into elevated fiberglass tables anchored 5 meters deep. Micro-fragmenting stimulates a rapid colonial healing response, accelerating calcification up to ten times faster than normal growth before colonies are transplanted to degraded granite reef bases.

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D
Dr Anouk Marine•1880 rep

Nursery tables must be brushed clean of filamentous algae weekly; herbivorous grazing snails (Trochus) are placed on tables to assist bio-cleaning.

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K
Kenji Reef•915 rep

Sediment plumes from Galle port dredging can smother delicate coral polyps; nurseries are placed behind the western natural rock breakwater.

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T
Toby Waves•930 rep

Touching or collecting coral fragments from declared sanctuary zones carries immediate arrest under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.

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R
Ranger Bandara DWC•1770 rep

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