Coral Transplantation as a Reef Conservation Tool - the Singapore Experience

Corals transplanted to Sentosa, an island south of the main island of Singapore, from a reef due for reclamation, were monitored and assessed one year after completion of a massive two-year transplantation exercise. This transplantation exercise was conducted by the Marine Conservation Group of the Nature Society (Singapore). Assessment of the 3m x 3m permanent quadrat showed that 24.29% of transplants remained healthy, while 57.14% were impacted or dying and the remaining 18.57% completely dead. The broad scale belt transect survey showed that 35.27% of the translocated corals were healthy, while 43.04% were impacted or dying and 21.69% completely dead. The low survival rate could be attributed to 2 main factors : improper securing techniques and unfavourable site conditions. The results also indicated that certain coral growthforms (mushroom, encrusting and massive) and genera (Fungia, Herpolitha, Favia, Platygyra, Favites, Goniopora and Turbinaria) were more suitable transplants than others.