Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, supporting nearly 25% of all marine species despite occupying less than 1% of the ocean’s surface. These vibrant underwater habitats act as nurseries for fish, protect coastlines from erosion, and sustain livelihoods through tourism and fishing. However, coral reefs around the tropics are under severe threat from climate change, overfishing, and coastal development—leaving many reef systems degraded and with dangerously low coral cover.
The Challenge: Scaling Coral Restoration
In response to this global crisis, coral reef restoration projects have emerged across the world. However, all face the same core challenge: how to out-plant coral in a way that is fast, cost-effective, and scalable. Traditional methods, such as securing coral fragments to reef substrate with underwater cement, are slow and labour-intensive.
This is where innovation steps in—with the Coralclip®.
The Coralclip®: A Game-Changer for Reef Regeneration
Developed and patented by Wavelength Reef Cruises—a leader in reef rehabilitation based in Queensland—the Coralclip® is an innovative and versatile device that’s transforming how coral reefs are restored. At Marsh Alliance, we’re proud to play a vital role in the global reef recovery movement by manufacturing these clips to support restoration projects around the world.
The Coralclip® consists of a stainless-steel spring clip that clamps the coral or fragment to the reef for long enough to begin growing onto the substrate securely. It’s specifically designed to make coral out-planting faster, easier, and more cost-effective. It can be used with both coral fragments and coral-larvae seeded substrates, making it adaptable to a variety of reef environments and rehabilitation techniques.
The process typically begins with either:
- The cultivation of coral larvae that settle onto small ceramic tiles, or
- The collection of coral fragments that have broken off naturally or been grown in coral nurseries.
The clips are used to attach coral units to bare sections of reef substrate, securely holding them in place while the coral naturally self-attaches. Over time, the coral grows over the clip, eventually incorporating it into the reef structure and forming a new, living colony.
Marsh Alliance’s Role: Supporting Scalable Reef Recovery
Since 2017, Wavelength Reef Cruises has been at the forefront of reef regeneration, and their Coralclip® technology is now being used in 23 countries to rehabilitate high-value reef sites. Their work represents a crucial advancement in making large-scale coral restoration more achievable.
Marsh Alliance, expert manufacturers of precision metal components and springs, is proud to support these efforts by supplying high-quality, engineered parts that enable reef scientists, marine biologists, and restoration teams to scale their work more efficiently.
Together with Wavelength, we’re helping to prove that with the right tools, innovation, and collaboration, large-scale coral restoration is not only possible—but already happening.
Innovation in Action for a Healthier Ocean
With coral reefs facing increasing pressure, solutions like the Coralclip® are vital for restoring these ecosystems at scale.
If your organisation is involved in reef restoration or marine research, get in touch with us to learn how we can support your efforts with precision-manufactured parts and other custom solutions.
Let’s rebuild our reefs—one Coralclip® at a time.
