A Review of Coral Reef Restoration Methods

Abstract

Due to global warming and human activity, the coral population has decreased by 50% since the 1950s. (Wetzel, 2021).  Many policies have been placed on conserving the coral reefs, but more is needed to stop the rapid decline. All around the world, different researchers performed multiple types of restoration methods to try and reverse the damage and destruction the coral reef ecosystem has sustained. This paper reviews the other restoration methods researchers have tried and are currently trying to review their effectiveness in reversing the damage to coral reefs. Restoration methods can be divided into active and passive restoration methods. The methods reviewed are removing invasive algae, coral gardening, substrate manipulation, and stabilization, larval propagation, direct transplantation, substratum enhancement with electricity, and cryopreservation. All in all, all of these methods have their respective strengths and weaknesses. The method that can move forward to be more mass-produced would be direct transplantation, as additions such as nurseries are unnecessary. The restoration method that has shown the most promise has been substratum enhancement with electricity, but since the method is still relatively new, further research is needed. A possible recommendation for future coral reef restoration endeavors is to combine restoration methods to make up for the flaws of each method and incorporate long-term monitoring.