Coral Reef Restoration

Following the Boxing-Day tsunami of 2004, many coral reefs in the Indian Ocean were devastated. Some of them were already suffering from overfishing, pollution, and ocean acidification. The damage caused by the tsunami added to a growing set of challenges facing these sensitive ecosystems. This photo essay highlights the efforts of scientists and divers working in one area of the Andaman Sea, trying to re-establish these hard hit underwater communities.

Measuring progress of coral growth

Tiled sea star

Porcelain crab

Variegated lizardfishes

Ocean trash, Myanmar

Transplanted coral fragments

Closed brain coral

Fishing along a coral reef

Durban Dancing shrimp

Flower soft coral

Chromodoris nudibranch

Securing a coral nursery