Coral Gardening: Issues and Challenges

• Main Authors: Reyes, Michelle Z., Raymundo, Darwin J. C., Rizwan, Sameen J., Licuanan, Wilfredo Y.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2017
• Subjects: natural resources and environment; coral reef; Aquaculture; corals; Environmental Health and Protection; Environmental Monitoring; Natural Resource Economics; Natural Resources Management and Policy
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/res_aki/131; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/res_aki/article/1135/viewcontent/volume_xi_1_aki_policy_brief_reyes.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Coral gardening is the process of restoring cover of a damaged reef by affixing live coral fragments. This method of reef rehabilitation has been gaining popularity in the Philippines, and while it has its applications, it should be the last option for bringing a reef back to a healthy state. Proper management of reef resources through marine protected areas, removal of stressors, and easing of fishing pressure provides a broader and more holistic approach while allowing the reef to recover by itself. If coral gardening is the only viable option available for rehabilitating a certain reef, careful consideration must be put into site selection, coral species to be utilized, and the management of transplantation sites. All national and local government permits required for operating a coral gardening initiative should also be obtained, and a monitoring plan formulated to assess its effectivity in the long run.