World’s largest coral restoration project unveiled in Saudi

RIYADH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in collaboration with NEOM has launched the first nursery of the KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative (KCRI). KCRI is the world’s largest coral restoration project, aiming to restore reefs around the world. The primary nursery is already operational, and a second facility is being developed, both located in the Red Sea.

The nursery, located off the northwest coast of NEOM, aims to revolutionize coral restoration efforts with an annual production capacity of 40,000 corals, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Serving as a pioneering pilot facility, researchers will leverage this project as a blueprint for large-scale coral restoration initiatives, including the world’s largest and most advanced land-based coral nursery.

Located at the same location, this advanced coral nursery will boast a 10 times larger capacity to nurture 400,000 corals annually. The project is estimated to be completed by December 2025. Home to 25 percent of marine species, coral reefs are at risk of severe heat stress, with experts estimating that 90 percent of global reefs will experience it annually by 2050.

KAUST President Professor Tony Chan said recent events were a stark reminder of the global crisis that coral reefs face. “Therefore, our ambition is to pave the way to upgrade from current labour-intensive restoration efforts to industrial-scale processes required to reverse the current rate of coral reef degradation,” he said.

“The University is contributing the world-leading expertise of our faculty, who are working on technologies to realize this vision.”

Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, said this initiative demonstrates NEOM’s dedication to finding innovative solutions to sustainability and global environmental challenges.