Merlin Entertainments spotlights SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s coral conservation project

With World Reef Awareness Day being held on 1st June 2023, Merlin Entertainments is spotlighting an innovative coral-conservation project between SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries Research (DPI Fisheries).

The partners have been working to establish a recovery programme for one of Australia’s most fragile species - the cauliflower soft coral. This follows the selection of the coral as one of the 100 priority species for the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Strategy in 2021.  

This endangered cauliflower soft coral species has experienced significant decline over the past 30 years, and more significant losses experienced in the last five years. The declining population is primarily caused by human-induced environmental changes, water quality disturbances, and sand inundation events.

The project, supported by the Commonwealth Environment Restoration Fund and NSW Environmental Trust, has achieved significant scientific discoveries within its first year, as the team proved the long-term viability of cloned coral in an aquarium setting.  

The development of aquarium rearing methods has led to the species’ re-introduction, with 200 cuttings returned to the waters of Port Stephens and Sydney Harbour at the end of March.

This week, divers from SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium conducted a health-check on the corals placed in Sydney Harbour and determined an 82% success rate for the re-planted coral - with 65% found to be very healthy and a further 17% found to be alive, but in need of some extra care.     

Dr David Harasti, Senior Marine Scientist, Fisheries Research NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries Research noted “the soft coral is at risk of disappearing from several locations in NSW. In the past five years, the soft coral colonies in Port Stephens have declined by 99%, primarily as a result of the large flood events.

“The growing of the soft corals in an aquarium and transplanting back into the wild is a pivotal step in preventing the extinction of one of the most critical endemic species of coral found only along the east coast of Australia.”

Laura Simmons, SEA LIFE Regional Curator Australia and New Zealand added “the cauliflower soft coral is incredibly important due to its unique nature and vulnerability and the advances we’ve made are really exciting! Furthermore, they can help protect and recover other threatened species, including the Endangered White’s seahorse, another conservation focus for SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s partnership with DPI Fisheries.”

The SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium team will continue to monitor the corals closely to understand if the re-introduced population is thriving and if they can re-establish within Sydney Harbour. The ongoing results will determine what next steps are needed to help recover this fragile endemic species, and the creatures it will provide a habitat for in the future.

Background information on how SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium cloned and sexually reproduced cauliflower soft coral
Cloning breakthrough:

• Cuttings were grown at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium – the team studied and learnt how to propagate these

• International attempts in other aquarium environments were only able to grow coral that lasted for weeks, the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium team was able to keep them alive for months

• This allowed the team to attach the new corals to concrete “cookies” that have been returned to the wild

• This is particularly beneficial for the endangered White’s seahorse which calls these corals home

For more information on the cauliflower soft coral project or to secure tickets to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Behind The Scenes Tour go to www.visitsealife.com/sydney/

Read more about how SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is helping to recover the White’s seahorse