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Coral Reef Restoration Pilot
Project
Tom Goreau May 23 2005 A pilot Biorock coral reef restoration project was set up at Cape Phanwa, Phuket, Thailand, in mid 2000. The Power was provided by a small battery charger, located in the pump house of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre. A large steel rod found in the reef was attached to the power, and a steel mesh (spacing about 5 cm by 10 cm) also found rusting in the reef was wired to it. A few broken corals found on the reef were placed on top. Both the mesh and bar were highly rusted. The electrical charge reversed rusting and precipitated limestone on top of the steel. Although the project worked only intermittently, due to cables being broken by a storm, the power being shut off by passersby, and the removal of the charger, excellent mineral growth and coral growth were obtained. The photograph, taken two years later, shows white limestone growth on the steel mesh and the underlying steel rod. The corals on and around the structure grew extremely vigorously, and had largely covered the mesh. This indicates successful low cost coral restoration even despite high turbidity and low power.
Photo by Wolf Hilbertz |
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