Part 10: Can damaged reefs be restored?

Most work to restore coral reefs to date has focused on restoring physical injuries caused by vessel groundings, rather than injury resulting from oil or chemical exposure. Reefs can be damaged by (1) the initial grounding itself, (2) attempts to free the vessel, and (3) associated coral rubble and debris that can be mobilized during storms and cause collateral reef damage. Restoration efforts often focus on stabilizing loose rubble and structurally restoring the reef framework. Coral transplanting (from donor populations) can also expedite coral recolonization, especially in protected areas.

Some coral species survive transplanting better than others. When coral transplanting is successful, the damaged reef may take decades to centuries to fully recover, and the recovered reef may be different from the original.

For more information Learn more about coral reef restoration, and read about some of the reef restoration efforts conducted by NOAA's Damage Assessment Remediation and Restoration Program (DARRP).

Oil Spills in Coral Reefs: Planning and Response Considerations To learn more about coral reef restoration, download Chapter 5 of this report.

Maitland Coral Reef Restoration Describes restoration efforts after the October 25, 1989 grounding of the oil field supply vessel M/V Alec Owen Maitland on coral reef within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (NMS). [leaves OR&R site]

Elpis Coral Reef Restoration Describes restoration efforts after the November 11, 1989 grounding of the 143-meter freighter M/V Elpis, also on coral reef within the Florida Keys NMS. [leaves OR&R site]

Columbus Iselin Coral Reef Restoration Project Provides detailed information on the efforts to restore an ancient coral reef in Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary after the August 10, 1994 grounding of the 155-foot research vessel Columbus Iselin. Includes maps and images of the restoration site. [leaves OR&R site]

Fortuna Reefer Coral Reef Restoration Describes activities to restore a well-established thick of elkhorn coral after the July, 1997 grounding of the M/V Fortuna Reefer on the fringing coral reef surrounding Mona Island, Puerto Rico. [leaves OR&R site]