Coral reef rehabilitation
Engineering
Van Oord aims to establish that
existing, but generally small-scale,
coral breeding techniques (through
ReefGuard
sexual
coral
reproduction
and
fragmenting) can be scaled-up and
effectively applied for the mitigation of
environmental impacts of very large
The ReefGuard is an innovative mobile laboratory designed for reef rehabilitation. It has
been developed by Van Oord in close collaboration with coral experts from all over the
world. The ReefGuard employs the concept of obtaining coral larvae from natural
spawning events and nurturing young coral recruits under controlled conditions, to
enhance their survival rates after re-introduction in nature.
The ReefGuard offers reef habilitation at a large scale, thereby assisting in the recovery
of reefs as part of the design of marine and coastal development projects.
Dredging and Marine Contractors
coastal infrastructure projects.
Coral Rehabilitation Initiative
-
Phase
1:
Feasibility
(2010-2011)
ReefGuard
Expert
consultation,
assessment of techniques (literature review and training)
-
Phase 2: Lab construction (2012-2013) Detailed design and
construction of a mobile laboratory - the ReefGuard, and
development of operating protocols
-
Phase 3: Application in the field (2014-2016) Optimize the
ReefGuard in the field through pilot projects: deliver proof of
The core of Van Oord’s coral rehabilitation initiative is
formed by a standalone mobile breeding facility: the
ReefGuard. The success rate of a coral breeding program
depends to a large extent on the availability of the
controllable environment (laboratory) sufficiently close to
target site for reef habilitation.
concept, and maximize survival rates by testing the influence
of natural factors and of aquaculture length and various
Van Oord’s vast experience in organising complex logistical
breeding techniques.
processes enables the efficient operation of the ReefGuard at
any location in the world. The ability to provide controlled
Sexual Coral Reproduction
The ReefGuard breeding program of broadcast spawning corals
starts at the beginning of their life cycle with fertilization of
laboratory circumstances at anytime and anywhere allows
Van Oord to successfully implement coral breeding
gametes (eggs and sperm) and settlement of larvae on purpose-
techniques as a mitigation measure in its large marine and
specific substrates, followed by providing growth stimuli during a
coastal development projects
certain cultivating phase, before placing the coral recruits back
Experts in coral breeding techniques are involved to continuously
optimize the lab design, and to improve protocols for the
operational methods
Contact
Van Oord
PO Box 8574
3009 AN Rotterdam
The Netherlands
T +31 88 8260000
F +31 88 8265010
E [email protected]
I www.vanoord.com
May 2016
into the field.