Red Sea Global, Saudi Arabia’s regenerative tourism developer, has unveiled some of the innovative techniques it uses for coral conservation.
As climate change continues to threaten coral reefs, Red Sea Global’s team has combined advanced technology with traditional methods to protect the vital marine ecosystems.
Starting with a more traditional solution, Red Sea Global works to mitigate coral bleaching by installing shading over its coral nurseries to protect them from harmful UV rays from the sun.
Its research has shown that by shading coral colonies before the onset of a heatwave, they have a better chance of surviving the high temperatures.
Last year, Red Sea Global’s shaded nurseries showed far greater resilience than the unshaded ones, revealing the importance of early intervention in coral conservation.
As for its high-tech methods, Red Sea Global is using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to map, track and predict coral formations with incredible precision.
AI and coral gardening at Red Sea Global
With thousands of images stitched together, the team creates detailed 3D renderings of the reefs, while AI-powered software like TagLab enables it to monitor changes in coral health and growth over time.
Another technique used for coral regeneration is coral gardening, which involves taking a small amount of branches from large and mature coral colonies and growing them in top-quality conditions.
Last season alone, Red Sea Global successfully gardened more than 2,500 coral branches in just 10 days.
“Environmental conservation and sustainability are not about perfection or using only the flashiest tech; they’re about making progress with both big steps and incremental small steps,” Red Sea Global said in a press release.
“That said, with innovative techniques, dedicated teamwork, and effective leadership, our team is making significant strides in protecting and regenerating coral reefs for future generations.”
Images courtesy of Red Sea Global
