Growing corals
In 2014 marinecultures.org started building a coral farm in the lagoon of Jambiani on Zanzibar’s east coast. The corals cultivated in the farm were to be sold internationally for the use in aquariums. The aim was to offer the local community a sustainable alternative to fishing providing them with a better income.
When El-Niño hit Zanzibar in 2016, more than 50 percent of corals near the coast and our entire coral rearing was destroyed. As water temperatures rose again in 2017, coral bleaching returned, and our efforts were shattered for the second time.
Reacting to climate change and rising water temperatures leading to coral death, we have decided to transform our coral farming efforts into a program to reforest damaged coral reefs.
Since then, we have focused on cultivating corals that have proven resistant to higher temperatures. However, to be better prepared for future El-Niño events, we have installed an additional farm on the outer reef where the water is cooler.
We don't work anymore with a brood stock. Our coral cultivation team tries to achieve the greatest possible biodiversity in the reforestation process.
