3D Reefs Rebuild Damaged Coral Habitats

Researchers have installed 3D-printed artificial reefs on the deep seabed as part of an effort to restore damaged cold-water coral habitats. Twenty-three of these structures were placed off the south-west Porcupine Bank, Ireland, and in the Bay of Biscay, France. This initiative is part of the Horizon Europe project REDRESS, focused on rebuilding European Seas.

The artificial reefs were deployed on board the research vessel L'Atalante during August. These eco-designed structures, made from low-carbon concrete, are approximately 80cm high and 100cm in diameter. They aim to provide complex microhabitats for corals and other marine life to colonize in areas harmed by bottom trawling.

Different restoration approaches are being tested, including equipping some reefs with oyster shells and others with living coral fragments, known as nubbins. Researchers found that these coral nubbins, placed on the reefs during a prior expedition, are still alive. The reefs have also attracted a variety of marine species, suggesting successful colonization.

Monitoring of the restoration sites is ongoing, with plans for further observation next year. The goal is to understand the conditions necessary for healthy coral growth and to assess the potential impact of climate change. Early results are encouraging, potentially opening avenues for scaling up coral reef restoration efforts across the Atlantic and beyond.