BioRock Technology

A New Stride For Coral Restoration and Climate Resilience

Tufts University Climate Resilience Institute Tufts University Climate Resiliency Institute

Introduction

During the past few decades, the iconic, colorful, and majestic views of the coral reefs or the beauty of the long sandy beaches of Oceania have slowly begun to fade away. As more and more coral reefs died by the years, especially in places like Bali, innovators knew they needed a smart solution. As coastal communities suffered at the frontlines of climate change, rebuilding the coral reefs was prioritized to save the economic, social, and environmental stressors in the areas. Biorock provided a solution that could help lots and lots of different regions that suffered from the same problem. Biorock is a promising solution to the effects of climate change by aiding communities and the local ecosystems to develop climate resilience. Biorock isn't just about coral but human communities as well, as humans rely on the fish that live in coral reefs. 

Climate Threats To Coral Reefs

When the temperature of the earth rises, corals feel stressed and release a toxin that causes mass coral bleaching events, eventually killing the coral. Coral reefs are sensitive to temperature rises as small as .5 - 2 degrees over a sustained time period. Coral bleaching is when the coral releases a chemical that causes it to turn white, leading to the inability to absorb nutrients and decreased reproductive capacity for the coral In 2016, heat stress encompassed 51 percent of coral reefs globally. The results served as it was the first mass bleaching (85 percent bleached) of the northern and far-northern Great Barrier Reef. It killed 29 percent of the reef’s shallow-water corals in the area.  ¹ 

Ocean Acidification

Furthermore, as CO2 continues to be released in unprecedented amounts into the air, the oceans continue to soak up the CO2, decreasing the pH of the water and causing ocean acidification. While oceans become more and more acidic, “dead zones” have been created, in which entire areas of the ocean are too acidic for fish to live and there is a lack of oxygen for coral to survive, thereby causing many ocean life to die posing a huge threat to the fish and seafood that live there.

A Coral Reef Crisis

An Estimated 1 in 4 coral reefs have been killed and an estimated 67% are placed at “high risk”. ² 

The increasing havoc these environmental stressors wreak on coral reefs is concerning for an array of reasons. Coral Reefs are hubs for most of the ocean’s biodiversity and support 25% of all ocean fish, including 8,000 fish and hundreds of mammal species-All areas of the food chain rely on coral reefs for food/nutrients, shelter, reproduction grounds, etc. ³ Over half a billion people directly rely on coral reefs for food, income, and protection, and even economic output. The buffer energy from waves, protecting settlements from sea-level rise, storm damage, and erosion. Thus, the loss of such diverse and effective ecosystems will have a devastating effect on both marine ecosystems and the world as a whole.

A coral reef bleaching map powered by water temperature data collected by the NOAA (see citation below)

A Potential Solution: BioRock

Biorock Technology is a new technique for coral reef restoration. Charged steel rods are formed into structures to enhance the settlement, growth, and health of aquatic organisms and their ecosystems. To build structures of any size or shape in the water, the Biorock technique employs electrically conductive materials such as plain steel. The steel is engineered to resist rusting by being un-rusted and converted back to iron. In what is coined as Mineral Accretion Technology, through positive and negative charges, low voltage electric currents pass through the steel. This emitss an electric field. This causes Minerals (calcium carbonate), which is naturally dissolved in the water, to crystallize, forming a hard rock layer similar to limestone. Coral larvae find these rocks and grow into coral polyps. Polyps attached to Biorock take the energy they would have devoted to building calcium carbonate skeletons and apply it toward growing or warding off diseases. Electrical currents cause many positive changes in coral reef ecosystems, causing them to survive high temperatures and other stresses better. 

Compared To Other Coral Restoration Mechanisms

This innovative blueprint revolutionizes the durability, effectiveness, and footprint of modern mechanisms for coral reef restoration, and makes strides towards sustainability. First of all, BioRock structures use significantly less carbon-embodied materials than other coral reef restoration or sea walls per square foot. “BioRock” is the sole material in environmental restoration projects that get stronger with age, and are self-repairing. When damage is inflicted, (ie. from storms or waves), the cycle of accretion continues. Thus, quality and strength only grow, and it's nearly self-sustainable, requiring minimal human maintenance. BioRock Technology can be powered by harnessing energy from the ocean, wind, or solar power.

L: Biorock rods with limestone coat after a period in the sea (Hilbertz, Wolf...) M: Members of The Global Coral Reef Alliance install a steel structure as the first step in The Gulf Of Kutch, India (Im, Eunjae) R: A young BioRock complex is supporting some coral and attracting life (Morrow-Wuigk...)

The Analysis on BioRock's Impact on the Climate Resilience of Coral Reefs

Since 1976, over 500 “BioRock '' in over 40 countries have been built.  “ ⁴BioRock corals and their ecosystems have shown positive, sustained changes in health, growth, and adaptation to environmental stressors. Thus, BioRock does not only help counteract the mass episodes of coral bleaching and death, but keep its coral ecosystems resilient to the effects of climate change. BioRock thus fosters climate resilience in the region in a multitude of ways.

  1. According to The Global Coral Reef Alliance, the organization behind BioRock, BioRock coral grows 2-10 times faster than neighboring coral. ⁵ Other restoration projects are less effective (coral have a low survival rate) with the presence of pollutants. However, BioRock coral becomes resilient to stressors, because BioRock creates the biophysical conditions ripe for many forms of life to make chemical energy, despite stressors. While the coral is first to receive and pass on this energy, this chemical energy is passed through the food chain and the entire ecosystem benefits as it adjusts and still maintains great health despite increased stressors. Naturally, fish and other valuable sea creatures to humans flock to successful BioRock projects. Thus, it helps repair industries damaged by the extinction of previous coral reefs. Corals growing on Biorock structures have 1600%- 5000% times higher survival rates after severe bleaching than other corals. ⁶
  2. BioRock structures help nearby land be climate resilient as well! BioRock is an ideal breakwater-It Grows stronger with age and repairs itself. Most BioRock structures are open-ended,allowing water passage. Instead, it relies on friction. But instead of relying on reflection (which most inefficient and counterproductive sea walls do), it refracts the water instead. Biorock can also protect ecosystems by slowing erosion and re-plump beaches and coastlines. In the Maldives, a Biorock™ coral reef grew in front of a beach that had disappeared. In 2-3 years, A new beach 50 feet (15 meters) wide grew behind the Biorock. As bio rock structures grows and becomes stronger, it also protects low lying lands from sea-level-rise, as it absorbs water and grows taller faster than the rate of sea-level rise (20mm/year vs 3-4mm /year) ⁷

Coral in Koh Samui, Thailand supported by a BioRock structure, being completely unaffected by the high temperatures/ stressors that turned all the corals around it white and then black (dead) The same coral a year earlier, showing its growth. This area has seen a peak in fish production. (Thomas Sarkisian...)

Pulau Gangga is an island North of Sulawesi island in Indonesia. It has suffered progressive beach erosion and diminishing coral cover until multiple bio rock structures were built in early 2016. Then gradual progress was made.(Journal of...)

DrawBacks

A few organizations utilize counterfeit reefs as motivation to simply dump their stuff in the sea. On the off chance that a fake reef site isn't picked accurately it can harm the marine life and different reefs in the nearby area. Because of the number of fish that counterfeit reefs draw in there are worries by numerous that it could prompt over fishing in various regions. Most people imitating the method without proper training have grossly overcharged their corals, leading to to weaker mineral accretion level and a weaker magnesium structure instead.

Conclusion

While has been exhibited as a perfect example of climate resilience, conclusive research has been limited. Though it seems to provide a solution to help human-centered environments to deal with the elements as victims of climate change, it is unlikely to be a safeguard for further human damage given our current trend. However, BioRock Coral reefs have been displayed to gain resilience to environmental stressors and so do the people who depend on them. 

Citations

Text:

¹ “Coral Reefs.” Coast.noaa.gov, National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration, coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/coral-reefs.html.

2 “Reefs Are at Risk.” Reef Resilience, Reef Resilience Network, reefresilience.org/reefs-are-at-risk/. 

3 “Coral Reef Ecosystems.” Coral Reef Ecosystems | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/coral-reef-ecosystems. 

4 “Biorock.” Global Coral Reef Alliance.org, Global Coral Reef Alliance, 22 Dec. 2019, www.globalcoral.org/biorock-coral-reef-marine-habitat-restoration/. 

5:“Biorock.” Global Coral Reef Alliance.org, Global Coral Reef Alliance, 22 Dec. 2019, www.globalcoral.org/biorock-coral-reef-marine-habitat-restoration/. 

6:“Biorock.” Global Coral Reef Alliance.org, Global Coral Reef Alliance, 22 Dec. 2019, www.globalcoral.org/biorock-coral-reef-marine-habitat-restoration/. 

7:“Biorock.” Global Coral Reef Alliance.org, Global Coral Reef Alliance, 22 Dec. 2019, www.globalcoral.org/biorock-coral-reef-marine-habitat-restoration/. 

Photos:

  1. (Photo 1- Climate Threats To Coral Reefs) Im, EunJae. May 2012. http://www.globalcoral.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/03/hindustan_times_eunjae_im.jpg 
  2. (Photo 2- Climate Threats To Coral Reefs) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. What Is Coral Bleaching?  https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coralbleaching.jpg
  3. (A Potential Solution: BioRock Photo 1)An Insight On India. https://www.insightsonindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/img_27-1-20.png
  4. (Photo 1-Compared To other Coral Restoration Mechanisms) Im, EunJae. May 2012.  http://www.globalcoral.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/coastal-restoration-fig2.jpg 
  5. (Photo 2-Compared To other Coral Restoration Mechanisms) Im, Eunjae. May 2012. http://www.globalcoral.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/03/hindustan_times_eunjae_im.jpg
  6. (Photo 3-Compared To other Coral Restoration Mechanisms) Morrow-Wuigk, Rani. https://thumbs-prod.si-cdn.com/IkrNgAKs30Sy46AWWDbuQog-liE=/800x600/filters:no_upscale()/https://public-media.si-cdn.com/filer/d1/ee/d1eed223-f24c-4035-8a34 80d375af251b/coral_goddess_and_snapper.jpg
  7. (Photo 1-The Analysis Of BioRocks Impact On the Clime Resilience of Coral Reefs)Sarkisian, Thomas. http://www.biorock.net/Technologies/Bali-dec-2002/Bali-1-03-004-750pix-wide.jpg
  8. (Photo 2-The Analysis Of BioRocks Impact On the Clime Resilience of Coral Reefs) Jan. 2014. The Journal of Marine Science And Engineering. https://www.mdpi.com/jmse/jmse-05-00048/article_deploy/html/images/jmse-05-00048-g002a-550.jpg

References

Baragona, Steve. “This Coral Restoration Technique IS 'ELECTRIFYING' a Balinese Village.” Smithsonianmag.com, Smithsonian Institution, 25 May 2016, www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/coral-restoration-technique-electrifying-balinese-village-180959206/.

“Biorock, Mineral Accretion Technology, and Seament.” Globalcoral.org, Global Coral Reef Alliance, 22 Dec. 2019, www.globalcoral.org/biorock-coral-reef-marine-habitat-restoration/.

“Coral Reef Ecosystems.” Coral Reef Ecosystems , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/coral-reef-ecosystems.

“Coral Reefs.” Coast.noaa.gov, National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration, coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/coral-reefs.html.

Goreau , Thomas J. “Protecting the World's Vanishing Coral Reefs.” TechnologyReview.com, MIT Technology Review, 28 Apr. 2021, www.technologyreview.com/2021/04/27/1021849/protecting-the-worlds-vanishing-coral-reefs/. 

Gibbens, Sarah. "The World's Coral Reefs Are Dying-here's How Scientists Plan to save Them." Science. National Geographic, 04 May 2021. Web. 05 Aug. 2021.  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/scientists-work-to-save-coral-reefs-climate-change-marine-parks 

Suparno, Nono. "Ecological Changes in the Coral Reef Communities of Indonesia's Bali Barat National Park." Biosphere Foundation. Smithsonian. Web. 04 Aug. 2021.  https://biospherefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Suparno-et-al-2019.pdf 

Trialfhianty, Tyas Ismi. “The Role of the Community in Supporting Coral REEF Restoration In Pemuteran, Bali, Indonesia.” Journal of Coastal Conservation, Springer Netherlands, 26 Aug. 2017, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11852-017-0553-1. 

Coral in Koh Samui, Thailand supported by a BioRock structure, being completely unaffected by the high temperatures/ stressors that turned all the corals around it white and then black (dead) The same coral a year earlier, showing its growth. This area has seen a peak in fish production. (Thomas Sarkisian...)

Pulau Gangga is an island North of Sulawesi island in Indonesia. It has suffered progressive beach erosion and diminishing coral cover until multiple bio rock structures were built in early 2016. Then gradual progress was made.(Journal of...)