Coral IVF (Great Barrier Reef Foundation)
Researchers capture coral spawn and rear millions of baby corals for damaged reefs; the first Coral IVF corals reproduced on the Great Barrier Reef in 2021 (GBRF).
Image: NASA/JPL.
Last reviewed: 1 source cited
Explain Like I'm 10
- Once a year, corals let out tiny eggs into the sea at the same time.
- Scientists catch them and help millions of baby corals grow in special pools.
- Then they put the babies on hurt reefs so the reefs can grow back.
The Five W's of Coral IVF (Great Barrier Reef Foundation)
Who
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation with Southern Cross University and CSIRO researchers.
What
Collecting coral eggs and sperm during spawning and rearing baby corals in floating pools and tanks before placing them on damaged reefs.
When
Trials began in 2016; spawning happens a few nights after the full moon in October or November.
Where
The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, in Australia.
Why
Heat stress from warming water causes mass bleaching that can kill large areas of reef.
Impact Statement
Nonprofit solution · active
Coral IVF babies placed on the reef survived a bleaching event and reproduced in 2021, the first breeding population established on the Great Barrier Reef this way.
Source: Great Barrier Reef Foundation, What is Coral IVF?
For Further Information: Great Barrier Reef Foundation, What is Coral IVF?
Corals raised by Coral IVF grew up and had their own babies on the Great Barrier Reef in 2021.
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Healthy reefs support tourism and fishing and protect coastlines from waves.
Source: Great Barrier Reef Foundation, What is Coral IVF?
For Nature
Millions of extra baby corals give damaged reefs a faster start on recovery.
Support Coral IVF (Great Barrier Reef Foundation)
Want to go deeper? The Great Barrier Reef Foundation explains Coral IVF.
For Further InformationRelated Solutions
More solutions like this one, matched by meaning.
For Teachers
Discussion questions
- What is Coral IVF (Great Barrier Reef Foundation), and what problem does it help solve?
- Who is behind Coral IVF (Great Barrier Reef Foundation), and where does the work happen?
- How does Coral IVF (Great Barrier Reef Foundation) help both people and nature? Use one fact from this page.
Sources are listed with each fact in the Five W's above.
Cite This Page
APA
Saving Planets. (n.d.). Coral IVF (Great Barrier Reef Foundation). https://www.savingplanets.com/Coral_IVF.html
MLA
"Coral IVF (Great Barrier Reef Foundation)." Saving Planets, https://www.savingplanets.com/Coral_IVF.html.