This July, Rob Peck, Founder of The Coral Centre, travelled to Bali to experience sustainable reef-keeping first-hand and visit in-situ coral farms. The trip offered an incredible opportunity to connect with the people and practices behind marine aquaculture that supports both the global aquarium trade and local reef restoration efforts.
Coral Rack Systems
During the trip, Rob had the opportunity to snorkel over extensive coral rack systems, underwater nurseries used to grow vibrant, maricultured corals. These structures not only provide sustainable stock for the aquarium trade but also serve a broader purpose: they offer reliable jobs and economic stability for coastal communities.
Coral Farming in the Local Community
A hugely impactful part of the visit was seeing how coral farming directly benefits local people. Farmers are trained to maintain and harvest coral sustainably, giving them valuable skills and a consistent income, all whilst helping to reduce pressure on wild reef ecosystems.
These mariculture efforts are a clear win-win, showing that ethical coral farming can benefit both conservation and community resilience.
Research and Observations on Restoration Methods
Rob also used the trip as an opportunity to conduct field observations and reflect on current coral restoration methods. He focused particularly on how fish and invertebrates interact with wire frame systems that suspend corals above the sea floor. While the upper surfaces of these metal frames supported healthy coral growth and attracted small fish, Rob observed a notable lack of biodiversity beneath them. This reinforced his concerns about the effectiveness of wire frame “star” structures commonly used in reef restoration projects around the world.
He said: “Wire stars are effective at growing coral, but their design leaves a hollow underside quite barren. There’s not much cover or habitat complexity for fish and invertebrates. This insight reinforces the importance of designs like The Coral Centre’s CoralPod, which offers full habitat complexity to support broader reef life, not just coral growth.”
Handpicked Corals from Bali - Available at The Coral Centre
While in Bali, Rob was able to handpick a stunning selection of maricultured corals to bring back to the UK. These limited-edition corals were chosen for their colour, health, and quality, and have been available in-store for our customers to enjoy.
If you visited recently, we hope you had the chance to see (or pick up) one of these special pieces, available while stocks last!
