Snapshot Seychelles No. 3

24 February 2025

Corals are extremely important as wave breakers, sand producers, and habitats for diverse marine flora. However, climate change threatens corals through marine heatwaves and increasing ocean acidification.

Beate Ratter, an expert in climate adaptation, is currently on site and reports:

“During severe storms, corals can break off. Human activities also damage corals, such as when boaters carelessly drop anchors, fishermen deploy their nets, or tourists step on corals while snorkeling.

In the coral protection program “Unlock the Sea” by the Maritime Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS), individuals collect broken coral fragments from the sea, place them on cement, and grow them in tanks. Depending on the species, these fragments are then nurtured in an Ocean Nursery for up to 13 months before being reintroduced into their natural habitat to help rebuild coral reefs.

The program has already achieved promising results with corals that are more resilient to rising temperatures. This is crucial because only with a protective, living coral reef will the waves erode less sand from the beaches, reduce erosion, and help mitigate flooding. Already today, the road to the airport is impassable under certain weather conditions."