Restoring coral reefs with 3D printing

While 3D printing construction projects continue to develop, it seems that there is also plans to play on more aquatic terrain. 3D technologies may well be a solution to preserve the oceans, fish, and corals. That’s why Emerging Objects worked with Boston Ceramics and SECORE (Sexual Coral Restoration); Together, they created a whole population of 3D printed substrates to attract coral larvae to the reefs and encourage their reproduction.

Preserving the ocean ecosystem with 3D technologies is not a fundamentally new initiative; we have seen several projects develop in this sense such as Coralise or that of D-Shape. By reproducing coral reefs with 3D printing, habitats for marine species are recreated, providing additional protection. This time, the three partners focused more on the natural reproduction habits of the coral.

3D printed substrates (photo credits: Valérie Chamberland)

3D printing to restore the reefs

Some species of corals naturally emit ova and spermatozoa, which are collected by SECORE, fertilized, and then raised in tanks until they become free-swimming larvae. These larvae are then be introduced into “carrier units” that have been 3D printed; these attract the coral, which then attaches to it. Once the corals are encrusted, the units are planted in reef areas requiring restoration. It is an effective solution that is costly and quite time-consuming.