Rebuild Coral Reefs With Nanoscience

Following the success found during second year of monitoring of the "Homes for the Ocean's Homeless" project in Sint Maarten, we have been designing our next phase of research and restoration. 

The IntelliReefs artificial reefs off the coast of Philipsburg have been found to enhance biodiversity, increase coral settlement, feed fish 4x higher than other artificial reef materials, and accelerate the regrowing of a healthy reef community. 

With these results, we are moving forward with Phase 4 of the project to scale up our restoration work. Working with the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten and IntelliReefs, we have designed a large scale habitat restoration system called "ReefShip". This modular system integrates within the existing natural reef system and provides additional, bio mimicking habitat for fish, corals, and bio diverse reef species where it is needed the most. 

We are currently speaking with private funders  interested in a participatory conservation experience in Sint Maarten. We have designed an ecotourism experience with local tourism companies for our funders to witness and participate in our next phase of deployment and research. The story will be documented with an international film crew.

Links:

• Design of Phase 4 Restoration Modules
• IntelliReefs Press Release

After just over 2 years underwater (28 months) off the coast of Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, the world’s first biomimicking nanotechnology artificial reefs are thriving. Since IntelliReefs' last monitoring round in January 2020, the world first nanotechnology artificial reefs have continued to attract and grow large stony and soft corals, fire corals, sponges, tubeworms, and a wide variety of other reef-building species. 

 We feed FISH every 15 seconds!!  

In January 2020, IntelliReefs' divers found 6 small coral recruits from one species (Porites asteroides) on their artificial reef in the MPA off the coast of Philipsburg. This March, divers found 24 different corals on the structure from three different species (Porites asteroides, Agaricia agaricites, and Favia fragrum) - a 400% increase in visible coral recruitment. This kind of biodiversity in restoration initiatives helps provide resilience in the face of climate upcoming stressors. These key reef species provide habitat and food for other fish and invertebrates, as well as perform important ecosystem functions - such as nutrient cycling. IntelliReefs, Reef Life Foundation, and the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation are currently gearing up to dive into the next round of sampling this July to further assess this ongoing study.

IntelliReefs is designing "Blue Barriers" to help build future food and economic security in the ocean. Climate change is causing oceans to rise quicker than scientists’ most pessimistic forecasts, resulting in earlier flood risks to coastal economies already struggling to adapt. IntelliReefs has developed biomimicking, self-healing coastal defense systems that protect shoreline properties and restore coral reefs at the same time. 

Nature is essential for sustainably and quickly addressing the impacts of climate change. Researchers have found that healthy reefs with live corals and biodiverse reef life dissipate wave force by nearly 97% (Ferrario et al. 2014). Traditional man-made breakwaters and jetties can actually erode the seafloor by reflecting wave force instead of absorbing it, creating sinkholes and interrupting beach formation.

 A recent publication in Ocean Science has revised earlier estimates, projecting that rapid sea level rise will now impact the two-fifths of the Earth’s population who live near coastlines. Insured property worth trillions of dollars could face even greater danger from floods, superstorms and tidal surges. This research suggests that countries will have to rein in their greenhouse gas emissions even more than expected to keep sea levels in check.

Links:

• New Coral Settlement on IntelliReefs
• Building Homes for the Oceans Homeless
• Reef Life Brings HOPE to Coastal Communities