FLORIDA KEYS, Fla. (WFLA) – A new biodegradable tool called “Coral Defenders” has launched this week to protect newly planted corals in Florida’s waters.
Coral Defender is a 3D printing tool made from polyhydroxyaca (PHA) that protects corals from predation. PHA is naturally produced by bacteria by fermenting sugars or fats.
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Scientists launched by the Florida Aquarium and Florida Fish and Wildlife will monitor the corals for the following year and a half. The pilot program aims to assess the survival of coral defences over time, “coral defenders” who protect corals from fish predation, how quickly marine materials deteriorate, and how quickly coral outskirts survive.
Divers spent two days overtaking 660 young corals raised in the aquarium at four reef sites in the Florida Keys National Marine Reserve. Half were placed within three species: grooved brains, symmetric brains, and raised cactus corals, and compared them to out-plants without defensive tools.
“Our coral defenders represent evolution in coral recovery,” said the research scientist, the leader and leader of the FWRI Coral Research Program project. “By providing biodegradable yet effective predator defenses, we are giving these corals the opportunity to fight naturally and thrive.”
