WILLEMSTAD - A recent study has revealed remarkable resilience in young corals cultivated through assisted sexual reproduction, according to a statement by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) on Thursday.
The research, led by SECORE International in collaboration with organizations such as CARMABI, Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire, and the University of Amsterdam, highlights an innovative method that may hold the key to preserving coral reefs in the Caribbean.
Unlike traditional coral restoration techniques, which rely on fragments of mature corals, assisted sexual reproduction combines genetic material to produce offspring with greater adaptability.
During the 2023 heatwave, young corals grown using this method were monitored at sites in Bonaire and Curaçao. The findings showed that these corals were significantly less susceptible to bleaching compared to wild corals. Only 10% of the young corals bleached, compared to 60–100% of wild adult corals.
“Given the rarity of natural reproduction among these coral species, restoration techniques like assisted sexual reproduction are vital for maintaining biodiversity in the Caribbean,” stated the DCNA.
The heatwave of 2023, researchers noted, reflects the ongoing threat of climate change, with rising ocean temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, and diseases such as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease posing critical challenges to coral reefs. Without intervention, these stressors could accelerate coral mortality and endanger marine ecosystems.
The success of this research underscores the importance of innovative conservation strategies to protect the region’s vulnerable reefs and the biodiversity they support.