March 07, New Delhi: In a pioneering effort in India to conserve deep-sea coral species, researchers from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies are testing a new method to ensure their long-term survival.
The concept, known as land-based coral nurseries, involves collecting coral species from underwater reefs off Vizhinjam and growing them in a controlled environment on land.
The aim is to reintroduce the corals into their natural habitat once they reach a certain level of growth. The project is being led by researcher and scientist Arun Aloysius from the Central Fisheries Department.
The project has completed its first phase, with the first batch of coral species reintroduced into the deep sea after being grown in land-based nurseries for two months.
By: Arun Aloysius, PhD Research Scholar, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS)