By Paul Wallis
EDITOR AT LARGE
DIGITAL JOURNAL
October 4, 2025
Corals turn white under heat stress, which causes them to expel the algae which give them bright colours and nutrients - Copyright POOL/AFP/File Curtis Means
The world’s coral reefs are having a very tough time. Climate and human activities are doing most of the damage. The reefs underpin a huge amount of the world’s food supply. The ocean food chain is even more of a mess than the food chain on land.
Coral reefs are primary drivers of the ocean food chain. They’re fish breeding grounds and provide much of the food for the fish. Coastal environs often create a mix of reefs and mangroves, producing a huge variety of sea life.
The wheels fall off when these environments are overstressed at fundamental levels. That’s why coral reefs need protection. Baby coral survival really dictates the future of the oceanic food chains in many ways.
Coral reefs and surrounding areas are the equivalents of fertile forests and grasslands. The oceans have huge “deserts” where nothing much grows. It follows that supporting the corals supports the big picture of ocean life. The usual problems with coral restoration are complexity and cost.
This is where the new 3D printing ideas come into play. University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) has invented new ceramic helix shelters for baby corals to help them get established and rebuild damaged reefs.
The 3D shelters are cheap, zero-maintenance, and can be slotted into any engineering works like seawalls, artificial reefs, and reef restoration.
It’s a pretty elegant idea. Baby corals are free swimmers. To produce coral they need a safe sheltered space. The 3D prints deliver effective, low-cost solutions with excellent survivability.
It’s been a stunning success. Thousands of baby corals have moved into the new helix shelters.
This raises the question of global adoption and adaptation of the 3D solutions. Coral reefs ore too important to let them degrade. Rebuilding is essential. The ocean ecologies are in dire need of any help they can get.
There are no credible reasons why coastal management authorities would object to a cost-efficient, proven solution to a major problem. The corals win this one.
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Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Digital Journal or its members.
October 4, 2025
Corals turn white under heat stress, which causes them to expel the algae which give them bright colours and nutrients - Copyright POOL/AFP/File Curtis Means
The world’s coral reefs are having a very tough time. Climate and human activities are doing most of the damage. The reefs underpin a huge amount of the world’s food supply. The ocean food chain is even more of a mess than the food chain on land.
Coral reefs are primary drivers of the ocean food chain. They’re fish breeding grounds and provide much of the food for the fish. Coastal environs often create a mix of reefs and mangroves, producing a huge variety of sea life.
The wheels fall off when these environments are overstressed at fundamental levels. That’s why coral reefs need protection. Baby coral survival really dictates the future of the oceanic food chains in many ways.
Coral reefs and surrounding areas are the equivalents of fertile forests and grasslands. The oceans have huge “deserts” where nothing much grows. It follows that supporting the corals supports the big picture of ocean life. The usual problems with coral restoration are complexity and cost.
This is where the new 3D printing ideas come into play. University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) has invented new ceramic helix shelters for baby corals to help them get established and rebuild damaged reefs.
The 3D shelters are cheap, zero-maintenance, and can be slotted into any engineering works like seawalls, artificial reefs, and reef restoration.
It’s a pretty elegant idea. Baby corals are free swimmers. To produce coral they need a safe sheltered space. The 3D prints deliver effective, low-cost solutions with excellent survivability.
It’s been a stunning success. Thousands of baby corals have moved into the new helix shelters.
This raises the question of global adoption and adaptation of the 3D solutions. Coral reefs ore too important to let them degrade. Rebuilding is essential. The ocean ecologies are in dire need of any help they can get.
There are no credible reasons why coastal management authorities would object to a cost-efficient, proven solution to a major problem. The corals win this one.
_________________________________________________
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Digital Journal or its members.
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