Ko Lanta Coral Propagation Project - Underwater Mission: To Plant 100 Corals!

The 3rd Annual Coral Conservation Event took place on the 5th of December at the Coral Nursery in Ko Haa Lagoon. This year’s challenge was to plant 100 corals in 1 day!

Anuar Abdullah and Laura Riavitz from Ocean Quest joined forces with the Ko Lanta National Marine Park, Pimalai Resort & Spa, Scubafish Dive Centre and volunteers from all over the island to smash the 100 coral planting target, successfully placing the newly planted coral fragments alongside the already maturing corals that have been planted over the last 3 seasons.

Some of the more mature corals that were propagated during the original propagation rounds have almost reached their 10cm goal height, meaning, this season will mark the first chance to harvest cuttings from the nursery sites and transplant them back into the reef.

Lanta’s coral reefs are among the most diverse, thriving and important in Thailand. Yet, in common with reefs around the world, climate change, global warming, and other environmental factors are negatively impacting reef ecosystems and we are seeing coral health decline on a daily basis.

By providing active assistance and cultivating protected coral nursery areas, a program of coral regrowth and repopulation can be built in areas where coral colonies have already died or been negatively impacted due to extended periods of elevated water temperatures, mass bleaching events or acidification. The most endangered coral species can also be protected by incorporating strategies and longer-term plans to grow more of these species. In addition, as global warming and negative environmental impacts continue, it is hoped that continued support and assistance can be provided to the reefs by using the stocks in the nurseries to provide further seedlings and a protected area from which to grow ever-increasing numbers of new stock.

KLCPP’s vision is to provide active assistance to Lanta’s reefs to help them remain healthy, diverse and thriving. By cultivating protected nursery areas and growing new stocks of coral colonies, they plan to enable and promote coral regrowth and repopulation and provide continued support to the reefs into the future.