Researchers in Kerala try out land-based nurseries for coral conservation

With coral colonies off the Kerala coast facing significant threats in recent years, researchers are now trying out a different tactic to ensure their survival. They are now experimenting with ‘land-based coral nurseries’ where coral species collected from underwater reefs off Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram district are grown in a controlled environment on land. The idea is that they would be reintroduced into their natural habitat once they reach a certain level of growth.

The Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) project is part of the research work of Arun Aloysius, a Kufos research scholar and scuba diver. The land-based nurseries have been established at the Vizhinjam Regional Centre of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and Kufos. This initiative also has special permission from the Kerala Forest department as it involves collection of corals, said Shyla G. of the Faculty of Fisheries at Kufos, who heads the project.

The coral specimens were collected from Vizhinjam by Mr. Aloysius, who is the author of the book Pavizhapputtukal: Kadalile Mazhakkadukal (Coral Reefs: The Rainforests of the Sea). The research programme is based on the concept that healthier growth and survival rates can be ensured by cultivating corals in controlled environments before reintroducing them into the ocean, Mr. Aloysius said.

Species selected

Species belonging to the genus Pocillopora, found in shallow waters off the Vizhinjam coast, have been selected for the research project. In the land-based nurseries, they are kept in a temperature-controlled sea water system mimicking their natural marine environment, he said.

While Kerala does not have extensive coral reef formations off its coast, there still are significant colonies, especially off the southern districts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. “The value of this programme lies in the fact that it also lays a strong scientific foundation for large-scale restoration efforts,” Dr. Shyla said. According to her, the plan is to reintroduce the corals into their natural habitats after a four-month period.

Kufos Vice-Chancellor A. Biju Kumar said that the success of this research programme can help expand coral reef coverage along the coast, improve marine habitats, and contribute to a sustainable increase in fishery resources.