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Coral Guardian
Mediterranean corals restored
BiodiversityDecontaminationInternational
With 15 €,
Coral Guardian finances:
2 neat coral plan(s)
12,381 €15,000 €
717 Captains
Challenge
In the Punta de la Mona Special Area of Conservation, several species of cold-water coral are uniquely present, such as the chandelier coral. This coral is of key ecological importance, as it serves as a refuge for many species of fish. Thanks to its rich biodiversity, the ecological value of the area is inestimable.
However, the region is threatened by human activities: pollution and the many abandoned fishing nets are having a particular impact on the corals, and the seabed is being damaged (hundreds of broken corals and a severely degraded ecosystem).
However, the region is threatened by human activities: pollution and the many abandoned fishing nets are having a particular impact on the corals, and the seabed is being damaged (hundreds of broken corals and a severely degraded ecosystem).
Solution
This coral restoration project has multiple benefits for the entire ecosystem. As many marine species depend directly or indirectly on them for reproduction, food, or shelter, corals are the foundation of a healthy ecosystem. In fact, areas with cold-water coral ecosystems host 29 times more life than areas without corals.
Actions carried out include (on an ongoing basis) seabed clean-ups, restoration actions for cold-water corals, as well as awareness programs for local communities to protect the ecosystems.
Actions carried out include (on an ongoing basis) seabed clean-ups, restoration actions for cold-water corals, as well as awareness programs for local communities to protect the ecosystems.
Recent result
The project has already enabled the cleaning of + 570 kg of underwater waste (from 30 to 50m depth) and the restoration of + 420 damaged corals within 3 nurseries (convalescence zone for damaged corals, where the team cleans and monitors their growth). Over 950 people have also been educated locally.
The money will be used for
To cover expenses related to underwater restoration (boat hire, diving gas, bioepoxy tools and material) and awareness-raising, as well as to cover the salary of the association's project manager.
Goal
Expected impact: 900+ care provided to corals implanted on nurseries, 280 corals replanted on seabeds and 900+ kg of waste removed from seabeds.
3 Rue de Bonald, 69007 LYON, FR
Working together to preserve coral ecosystems
Coral Guardian is a French association founded in 2012. Its mission: to protect and restore coral ecosystems around the world, working hand in hand with local communities. Coral Guardian acts to protect corals, marine ecosystems and the human communities that depend on them, along 3 axes: participatory marine conservation, awareness-raising and the use of science.
The association is currently running two coral restoration projects: in the Mediterranean (in Spain) and in Indonesia. It also offers support to organizations wishing to set up coral reef restoration projects, creates awareness-raising tools and participates in research and scientific popularization projects on coral reefs.
The association is currently running two coral restoration projects: in the Mediterranean (in Spain) and in Indonesia. It also offers support to organizations wishing to set up coral reef restoration projects, creates awareness-raising tools and participates in research and scientific popularization projects on coral reefs.
Fishing nets raised from the seabed. Copyright: Coral SoulRestoration work accelerates on Deep Core project
The start of the 2023 school year was eventful for the Deep Core project in Spain. In September, the project team focused on the care of recovered corals, and no less than 220 corals were cared for on the nurseries, at + 30 meters depth. In October, an extraordinary week of mobilization brought together 10 technical divers from different European countries (German, Dutch, Danish, Spanish) to de-pollute the seabed in the area. A total of 360 kg of garbage was cleaned, most of it abandoned fishing gear and nets. An action that gives hope and a smile to the marine ecosystems of the Mediterranean.
Discover the project team and the passion that drives them
In the spring, the Deep Core coral restoration project in the Mediterranean was lucky enough to welcome teams from the Seen Blue production agency. We are delighted to present the film made, which traces the commitment of these "guardians of the chandelier coral".
Divers haul up ghost nets from the seabed. Copyright : Coral Soul+ 1 tonne of waste de-polluted in the Mediterranean Sea!
After 2 years of de-polluting the Mediterranean seabed, at Punta de la Mona near the town of Almunecar in Andalusia, the Deep Core project has reached a new milestone: 1 tonne of waste removed from the seabed! This figure is the fruit of long-term work, carried out day after day by teams of volunteer divers, diving to depths of between 30 and 50 metres to bring up marine debris. 80% of the waste removed comes from fishing: huge abandoned nets, fishing lines, bait, etc. are destroying local biodiversity.
Coral Soul's team of divers take care of the corals they collect from the nurseries, before transplanting them to the reef. Copyright: Javier Sanchez / Coral Soul+ 700 corals restored in the Mediterranean by 2022 with our partner in the field, the Coral Soul association
Thanks to the involvement in the project of 120 volunteers and ocean enthusiasts, we cleaned up more than 1,000 kg of waste from the seabed, allowing biodiversity to regain its rights. More than 2,000 people were made aware of the beauty of the Mediterranean seabed and the importance of preserving it. All these actions have led to local progress and more regulations within the Punta de la Mona Marine Protected Area.