The increase in demand for an artificial reef on Koh Tao has occurred as conservation programs on the island become more involved and more intricate. Coral nurseries are of increasing importance because Reefs around the globe are threatened by human activities. Like many parts of the world, the economy on Koh Tao is reliant upon our natural reef areas and the visitors they bring. Thus introducing artifical reefs on Koh Tao we minimise the impact on some of the natural reefs here.
Koh Tao currently has a number of coral nurseries using different techniques for research and restoration purposes. It is hoped that coral colonies from these nurseries can help add to the reefs around Koh Tao and provide a means of restoring damaged areas faster than would naturally occur, as well as providing additional dive sites. A number of organisations including Save Koh Tao and dive operators on Koh Tao have begun constructing small coral nurseries to test the feasibility and success of different methods.
Big Blue Conservation aims to contribute by building a smaller artificial reef close to our Big Blue Diving Resort, which we can maintain and grow. Encouraging coral growth in an area affected by constant human activity, helping the natural marine life in the area by creating a new habitat.
In the future, we would like to see artificial reefs near each dive site, and a few in places that currently are not being dived to provide alternative dive sites.
With nurseries in place in close proximity to dive sites, should a boat anchor or SCUBA divers break the corals, those fragments can be quickly brought to a secure growing area until they become large enough to transplant back onto the dive site. The nurseries themselves also serve as habitats for fish and a variety of other marine organisms, helping to maintain the reef abundance and biodiversity around Koh Tao.
If you want to find out more about conservation practises on Koh Tao or getting involved and doing your Eco Internship with us then drop us a line or check out our Conservation Course options.
