Sandies Bathala Launches a Coral Conservation Initiative

The Marine Biologists at Sandies Bathala have initiated a Coral Garden restoration programme to preserve and protect the coral reefs for the future as part of their ongoing commitment to prioritise ocean conservation and protect the natural environment.

The restoration of coral reefs necessitates knowledge, planning, and scale. As a result, the Marine Biology team on Bathala has established the first mid-water coral nursery to test and, in a subsequent step, expand coral production to repopulate the reef. This technique, known as coral gardening, is a two-step process in which coral fragments are grown under ideal conditions in the nursery before being planted on the reef. This allows for the production of thousands of new corals in a year, giving them a better chance of survival on the reef. The biologists are closely monitoring the progress of corals growing on "Bathalantis" to test and fine-tune the process.

By adopting and naming coral fragments, the coral cookie project hopes to actively engage guests. The resort repopulates shallow areas of the Bathala house reef by rescuing broken corals and affixing them to "Coral Cookies" before cementing them to the reef alongside guests. Participants not only receive a certificate and photos of the activity, but they also gain a better understanding of coral reef ecology and ways to support coral reef health.