Asian Diver – March 2018

SCIENCE

which is simply because there are
no living corals left to extract for
propagation. This is the case for some
islands in the Pacific. The only hope is
for new larvae recruitment brought in
by the oceanic currents.
Importation of coral species into
the devastated areas is not encouraged
as there are many risks involved,
such as invasive species that could
disrupt the natural balance of the local
environments. Locations in the Indian
Ocean such as Maldives suffered a
similar fate to the Pacific Islands due to
bleaching and the impact of the Indian
Ocean tsunami in 2004. Naturally, the
recovery of these reefs is very slow,
but globalising coral restoration would
hopefully speed up their recovery.

GLOBAL DATA ACQUISITION
To globalise coral restoration, we
first need to acquire standard data on
conditions of reefs around the world.
Though there has been much work
done on acquiring coral data, there is
a lack of reliable global data that can
be used to support a worldwide coral
restoration. Conventional methodology
of coral surveying using transects
cannot acquire accurate data for large-
scale planning and monitoring. This
methodology, commonly called reef
check, does not give accurate data for
large-scale coral reef rehabilitation.
This is simply because their survey
methodology relies on human
observation, which is highly prone
to error, especially when many are
involved in the data collection.

It is time for newer technology to

be brought into coral reef surveying.

Ocean Quest has developed a survey

design using a combination of

Geographical Information System (GIS),

3D and 360° imaging technology. This

technology allows for a much broader

mapping information system that can

be used for global coral conservation.

The system uses diver propulsion

vehicles (DPV), which allows for

surveying large areas of coral reef on a

single dive.

CORAL REEF RESTORATION SYSTEMS

Many system designs employ

man-made structures as the substrate

for corals to propagate. These designs

are small-sized and cannot achieve

the global scale that involves many

square kilometres of reefs. This is

simply because the cost of acquiring,

fabricating, transporting and

deploying such structures is immense

and impractical. Besides, many man-

made materials used contain plastic or

PVC structures. PVC structures used

for coral propagation are the most toxic

and detrimental material in the marine

environment. Exposed to seawater and

tropical sun, PVC materials quickly

I first came to ADEX in 2013 as

a speaker for coral reefs. Prior

to that, in 2012, I won the ADEX

ocean artist of the year with a

painting of a whale shark. In

2014, I became the ADEX coral

reef ambassador for my role

in coral reef restoration. My

work in coral reef restoration

involves research and

development of the techniques

and its education system.

Now I am leading a global

scale coral reef restoration

with Ocean Quest and Sea

Shepherd Dive

ABOVE: A dried lagoon in Kiribati due to

droughts that lasted over a year, altering

many things including the coral reefs

OPPOSITE PAGE: Older methods of survey and

data acquisition cannot support global

scale coral restoration

IMAGES: Anuar Abdullah

ABOUT OCEAN QUEST

Founded in Malaysia in 2010 by

Anuar Abdullah, Ocean Quest is

the only Malaysian-based marine

conservation organisation that

has branched out internationally.

Through thorough research,

Ocean Quest created its own

techniques, methodology

and material for coral reef

rehabilitation

http://www.oceanquest.global

degrade, leaching the water with

Besphenol A (BPA) and phthalates.

One PVC structure was observed for

seven years and it was found that even

though the corals were surviving well,

no spawning activity was observed.

This coincides with findings of

the effect of BPA and phthalates on

humans. BPA and phthalates are

hormone disruptor toxins that can

potentially cause impotent in men. It is

also known to have impact on shellfish

and other organisms.

Newer technology explores organic

means in coral propagation. By

eliminating the need for man-made

materials, coral propagation can be

done with minimal cost and time.

Ocean Quest is the pioneer in

using natural rocks found on the

seafloor for coral propagation – a

substrate that is free and abundant.

This new system, called “Coral

Seeding”, rescues broken coral

fragments found on the seafloor,

which are then processed and

propagated onto rocks without

having to be brought to the surface. AD