A Milestone for Reef Restoration
November 2024 marks a pivotal moment for S.T.O.P. Our team, alongside 30 dedicated volunteers, planted 200 new coral fragments across three restoration sites along the coast of Praslin. This is the largest single planting event in our history, and it represents a significant step toward our goal of restoring 1,000 meters of degraded reef by 2026.
The Science Behind the Planting
Each fragment was carefully selected from our nursery stock based on thermal resilience testing. We prioritize species that have demonstrated higher tolerance to warming waters, including Acropora tenuis and Pocillopora damicornis. The fragments were attached to specially designed artificial reef structures made from recycled concrete and limestone, providing a stable substrate for growth.
Community Involvement
What makes this event special is the community participation. Local fishermen, school groups, and visiting eco-tourists all contributed to the effort. Each volunteer was paired with an experienced diver from our team, learning coral handling techniques and underwater planting methods.
Every coral fragment we plant today is an investment in tomorrow's reef ecosystem. When you hold a coral in your hands underwater and secure it to the reef, you feel the weight of that responsibility.
Monitoring and Growth
All 200 fragments are now tagged and entered into our monitoring database. We will track survival rates, growth measurements, and bleaching indicators over the coming months. Based on previous plantings, we expect a survival rate of approximately 75-80% after the first year, with visible colony formation within 18 months.
What Comes Next
We are planning two additional planting events in early 2025, targeting the waters around Curieuse Island and the Anse Lazio reef system. If you would like to participate as a volunteer diver, applications are now open on our Get Involved page.