The Great Barrier Reef receives the largest coral re-seeding

The Great Barrier Reef receives the largest coral re-seeding

SYDNEY: Scientists have launched the largest attempt to regenerate coral on the endangered Great Barrier Reef by harvesting millions of eggs and sperm during their annual spawning. The researchers announced Wednesday their intention to grow coral larvae from the harvested eggs and return them to areas of the reef that have been severely damaged by climate-related coral bleaching. "This is the first time that the entire process of large-scale larval rearing and culture has been undertaken directly on the reefs of the Great Barrier Reef," said Peter Harrison of Southern Cross University. one of the project leaders. "Our team will restore hundreds of square meters in order to reach square kilometers in the future, a scale never tried before," he said in a statement. The launch of the "Larval Restoration Project" was planned to coincide with annual coral reef deposition, which began earlier this week and will last 48 to 72 hours.

AFP