Irish scientists help damaged coral with 3D-printed reefs

Irish scientists have been using 3D-printed coral reefs to help damaged coral recover off the Irish and French coasts.

The team from University of Galway, along with French scientists, have placed 23 structures on the seabed of the Porcupine Bank - 200 kilometres off the Kerry coast - and in the Bay of Biscay off France.

Team member, and deep-sea ecologist, Dr Anthony Grehan said scientists are looking to restore Ireland's cold water coral reefs.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Dr Grehan said: "Everybody knows about tropical coral reefs like the Great Barrier Reef.

"But not everybody knows that Ireland is actually home to spectacular cold-water coral reefs which are much deeper."

He said cold-water coral reefs occur between 500m and 1km deep.

"They are hotspots of biodiversity, they are good for fish nurseries, sequester carbon, they are carbon sinks," he said.

Dr Grehan said there are two main reforming corals and they create a 3D intricate structure on the sea floor that are home to lots of animals that use the gaps in corals but also settle onto the dead coral framework.

He described it as "an oasis in the deep sea", with sponges, crabs and fish among what is found there.

However, he said trawling has been damaging the coral reefs.

"Fishing is very heavily regulated now … we are not so concerned about damage taking place now, it is really to address some of the damage that has occurred in the past."

Dr Grehan said they have just started to use the 3D-printed coral reefs in shallow water.

The reefs are one metre high and one metre wide, weigh 600kg, are made from eco-concrete and are "very heavy".

Dr Grehan said the reefs are lowered over the side of the boat to a depth of 1km, with acoustic positioning on the lines so they know where they are releasing it. The reef is then rested on the sea floor.

Half of the reefs already have small pieces of live coral attached to help promote new settlement.

He said they are already seeing signs of success and their plan is to go back out next year with an Irish research vessel to the Irish and French sites.

"The functioning of the reefs is returning with the addition of these artificial structures."