Asexual Coral Propagation for the Aquarium Trade and

Asexual Coral Propagation for the Aquarium Trade and for Reef Restoration Using Reef Balls. Marine Ornamentals Conference, Nov. 26 -Dec 1 2001 Copyright, 2001 © Reef Ball Development Group, Ltd.

Reef Ball Reefs n Current Totals – 1/2 Million Reef Balls in World – 40 Countries – 3, 200+ Projects – 17 Authorized Contractors Worldwide n World’s Largest Designed Reef Manufacturer

Reef Ball Technology n Reef Ball Video

What’s Important to Corals? Stability n Vortexed Holes n Surface & p. H n Variable Sizes n Light Zones n Adapter Plugs For Secure Transplants n Totally Adaptable “Baserock” for Natural Reefs. n

Why Reef Balls for Coral Culturing & Restoration Work? Specifically designed for Corals n Floating Deployment / Low Cost n Universally Permitable, Industry Standard--adds a living reef n Protection of Investment-Stable n Allows focus on Corals, not substrate n

Goals of Projects 300+ Reasons to Build Reefs-Today Coral n “Default Goal”Mimic Natural Reefs n Coral Propagation & Restoration Projects should adhere to default goal n

Propagation & Transplant System for Reef Balls Minimize Underwater/Diver Work n Wide Range of Corals-Soft & Hard n Minimize Costs n Strong Attachment n Simple enough for volunteers/indigenous work forces n Allow morphology changes-Relocate n No damage to natural reefs. n

RB Adapter Plug System n Compatible with Aquarium Industry “plug” standards

RB Adapter Plug System n #8 Rubber Stoppers in Mold

RB Adapter Plug System n Hole for Coral Plug-Wherever Desired on Reef Ball… 12 -128 per Ball.

Coral Plugs 1 -3 Minute p. H Neutral Cement Mix n Standard Medicine Plastic Cup for Mold n Propagated or Transplanted Corals embedded directly into the Concrete n Works on nearly all hard corals and Gorgonian Corals n Grow out required for some other species in a controlled setting. n

Coral Plugs

Coral Plugs

Coral Plugs

Coral Plugs-@ 7 weeks Basing

Then Grown To Obtain 3 rd Generation Corals

Ethics of Coral Aquaculture • Start only with imperiled corals or ethically obtained corals • Bring to market only 3 rd Generation Corals…Mother…Reef Ball…Market • Local Diversity Only

Ethics of Coral Aquaculture • Start with small fragments, not adult colonies • Transplant only within ranges of depth, current, visibility, temperature, etc. of selected species. • Use best known practices

Ethics of Coral Restoration • Start only with imperiled corals unless selecting for traits requires propagation from mother colony. • Species Diversity of Natural Reefsall life, not just corals. • Don’t transplant larger than fragment size if morphology at issuereplant instead. • Local Diversity Only

Coral Transplant & Propagation Projects • Volunteer Based Projects -Curocao -Pago -Maldive Islands -Dominica -Planned: St. Marteen, Stacia, Cancun, Bali, Barbados, Florida (Jacksonville), Turks & Cacios, Bahamas, Qatar, others

Coral Transplant & Propagation Projects • Research Based Projects -Puerto Rico (Austin Kirby Bowden) -Sarasota (RBDG) -Ft. Lauderdale (Nova Southeastern) -Mustique, (Applied Marine Tech) -Dominica (Applied Marine Tech) -Baltic Sea (Marilym)

Coral Transplant & Propagation Projects • Additional Monitoring Based Projects -Pago (C. O. R. L. ) - Maldives (4 -Season Staff Biologist) -Curacao (Porto Maria Biologists) -Jacksonville High School -Turks & Caicos (Marsha Pardee) -F. I. T. , SPARS, N. Z. , HK, Oman, . . .

Mortality Rates @ 90 Days

Mortality Rates @ 90 Days

Main Causes • Acropora-Rapid tissue necrosis • Porites-Handling • Plates-Handling • Brains-Black/white band • Gorgonians-Crushed tissue • Hydrocorals-Improper Placement • Solitary-Division process

Other Problems • Improper Mounting / Possible Morphology Changes

Other Problems • Algae Overgrowth-Pollution

Other Problems • Physical Damage. . . Divers, Boats, Storms, etc. • Bleaching Events • Too Many Fragments • Propagation/working tank H 2 O Quality • Poor epoxy mixing

Other Problems • Time from plugging to installation. Storage Issues • Too much H 20 in cement plug • Living flesh not touching plug cement • Fragments too big or too small • Corals stinging each other • Lack of imperiled corals

Biggest Questions • Species Specific Placement -Location (range) -Depth -Turbidity -Light Zone on Reef Ball -Proximity to Vortexed Holes -Room for Growing • Species Specific Propagation Methods

Answering Questions www. artificialreefs. org • Scientific Resources ->Coral Transplant and Propagation Notes • Range Notes: depth, turbidity, temp. , currents, colony sizes, etc. • Propagation Notes • Transplant Notes • Photos and other notes.

Answering Questions www. artificialreefs. org • 6000 pages of additional information • Reef Ball Foundation, Reef Ball Development Group, Eternal Reefs, Reef Ball Coalition, Authorized Reef Ball Contractors and more • Sign up for free email updates

Don’t forget Other Natural Problems • Parrot fish, coral eating sponges, flamingo tongues, crown of thorn, storms etc.

Or the biggest problem • From Mother Earth News… “We know EXACTLY what is wrong with our worlds coral reefs… Corals are allergic to humans!” • Propagation and restoration may be the closest thing to Benadryl that we’ve got. And Reef Ball Foundation thanks the aquarium industry for developing 90% of this technology.

Thanks To • CORL, Mike King -www. corl. org • John Walch • Coral Life

Questions & Answers

Coral life of Malaysia n Case Study of Coral Propagation using Reef Balls.

Coral life of Malaysia 40 indoor tanks, 60 gallons each n R/O H 20, Instant Ocean, MH Lighting n 4 banks of connected tanks n Reverse Daylight Photosynthesis Filtration, turf algae & Calerpras n Produces 500 Plugs/ Month w/ 90 day grow-out. n Demonstration Only-Stage 2 outdoors n

Underpinnings Reef Ball Training-Reef Ball Asia n Tanks & Technical-John Walch n Propagation-Todd R. Barber, RBDG US n Grant from Malaysian Gov’t to Coral life n Marketing, SMART Fish n Lab Production, Export-Coral life n

Lab Challenges Temperature…added A/C n Nudibranch Infection n

1 st Mother Coral Collection From Malaysian Nat’l Parks n Special Permits-Imperiled Corals n Some for Aquarium Resale n Others for Restoration n

Reef Ball Use After 1 st Mother Corals, plugs planted on Reef Balls n Subsequent Stock from 3 rd Generation off Reef Balls n Some Reef Balls used for restoration work n New “wild” collections only for new species. n

Results First Corals for Export Spring 2002 n Requires outdoor facility to be economically viable n Color Morphs & Variety drives Aquarium Mkt Demand n Diversity/suitability drives restoration demand n