Mars completes coral reef regeneration project in Indonesia

The science arm of leading confectionery manufacturer Mars has completed a coral reef regeneration project, covering around 7,000 sq metres in Pulau Badi, Indonesia, which it says will restore the natural environment and help communities thrive.

The project was developed by the sustainability team at Mars Symbioscience, which used special structures on which coral fragments can grow to restore the reef and the fish population.

“It is so gratifying to see the progress we’ve made together – already the coral reef has significantly increased food resources for the people of Pulau Badi and I can see a much brighter future now if the people can protect and manage their new reef sustainably for generations to come”, said Noel Janetski who leads the Mars Symbioscience marine sustainability team in Indonesia.

The site had been previously destructed by intensive fishing practices, which left the reef damaged and dramatically affected the fish population. The project by Mars focused on long-term food security and looked at way in which locals could be helped to manage the reef sustainably.

Dr Susan Williams, professor at the Bodega Marine Laboratory, said, “I have watched this Mars project over the years and am not aware of anything of this scale. The beauty is that the technology is more easily transferable than other reef projects I’ve seen. The corals expand very quickly, possibly because the technology is based on a simple structure that does not shade the corals very much or impede water flow around them, enabling them to thrive.

“Rebuilding the coral reef ecosystem is needed by the local people, but also offers promise to improve the ecological and economic sustainability for the future of the region.”

Photo: Vincenzo Piazza via freeimages

Further reading:

Climate change endangering coral reefs vital to small islands

Current rate of ocean acidification eclipses ancient extinction event

Sustainable investment as a solution to the world’s ocean crisis

Climate change will affect people who rely on the oceans

Ocean acidification will threaten fish stocks