National Taiwan Ocean University

Coral farms in northern Taiwan will effectively promote the development of basic and applied coral studies and marine environmental education. No such coral farm existed previously.

---

​"So far, SeaTak™ has been highly effective! We transplanted 21 Acropora fragments to a site near our coral farm in May; after a typhoon passed by Taiwan in early June, all of the outplanted fragments were accounted for (they did not budge!). This is a great improvement upon epoxy, which at times does not withstand such disturbances. "
- Emma Chen, Research Assistant to Dr. Shikina PhD, Primary Researcher of NTOU

---

Along the northern coast of Taiwan, there are existing abalone farming ponds that have been built into the coast line. Many of these have been abandoned. Being built into the coast, they are largely protected from significant ocean wave activity while at the same time allowing natural sea water with all its nutrients to enter and exit naturally. These ponds are surrounded by concrete walls, providing an environment protected from high waves caused by typhoons and monsoons.​

The team at National Taiwan Ocean University borrowed techniques developed in Okinawa, Japan for coral propagation whereby corals are nurtured in natural environments on table structures raised up from the ocean floor. Growing corals on underwater tables minimizes sedimentation damage and damage caused by natural enemies. Their lab develops and implements techniques for coral aquaculture and restoration as well as conducting basic coral research and organizing marine education efforts.

 
​Once the coral fragments have grown to an appropriate size, they are transplanted into the open ocean onto existing coral reefs where bleaching and die off events have occurred.

​Currently, the team relies on cement and epoxy to transplant coral to the reef. This process involves cleaning the surface, drilling a hole into the reef, preparing the adhesive, affixing the adhesive to the propagation substrate, and affixing the entire set to the reef.

---

Clean

Prepare

Affix

Attach

Complete

---

Issues that occur:

• 30% of their corals detach due to weather and wave action
• Of those that do not detach, 5% of the attached corals die off
• Two part epoxy generates a toxic cloud
• Not enough coral can be planted in a dive

As a result there is a need and a desire to develop alternative techniques for outplanting. This is where SeaTak™ comes into the picture.

​With SeaTak™ in an underwater caulk tube, they can apply adhesive and stick the coral to the reef in
one step with a one hand operation addressing all the issues identified.

---

Results:

• April - 21 Acropora fragments transplanted
• May - Coral fragments undisturbed by exposure and weather events
• June - Healthy calcareous red algae growth overtop of SeaTak™ has begun

---

---

National Taiwan Ocean University in Keelung, Taiwan - Emma Chen, Dr. Shinya Shikina
​Website     |     Facebook     |     Instagram