Scientific breakthrough with larvae that could save coral reefs

A Dutch environmental foundation has succeeded in breeding hundreds of thousands of coral larvae through in vitro fertilisation (IVF). These larvae—and specifically the innovative technique by which the essential coral larvae are cultivated in the laboratory—could prove pivotal in the recovery of coral reefs.

The Dutch company has bred more than 236,000 larvae of 'grooved brain coral' over the past month. Some of these coral larvae have just been released into the water under protective tents, with the rest to follow in the coming week.

Natural populations of coral larvae are steadily declining due to global warming, putting coral reefs under threat. Reef Renewal aims to address this with this technique, which has already proven successful.

(SR - Source: Telegraaf/NOS - Illustration image: ©Unsplash)