[Coral-List] Epoxy or cement for transplanting coral. (Ivana Kenny)

[Spring, Keith]

Ivana:

 

Is this in conjunction with the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines ship
channel and harbor dredging project at Falmouth where the proposal was
to dredge through more than 100,000 m2 of fringing reef, patch reefs,
and hard bottom as well as seagrass beds to create a cruise ship
facility? During the initial stages of this project it was estimated
nearly 200,000 stony corals (>5cm diameter) and more than 50,000
octocorals would need to be relocated to meet permit requirements (based
on surveyed densities of corals at the site and published AGRRA survey
data from Jamaica's north shore). Proposing to use aquarium epoxy or
"pool putty" (or even the more liquid 2-part epoxy used for anchoring
bolts in seawalls) for a project of this size should not have been an
accepted methodology. Hard to believe a contractor would agree to use
this method based on cost not to mention success criteria. Type II
Portland cement is the standard for conducting coral reattachment,
especially when dealing with larger specimens as well as instances of
multiple colonies attached to large sections of detached rock (based on
reattaching more than 40,000 coral colonies over the past 15 years).
There are additives which can be utilized to accelerate setting times
and other techniques and methodologies which have been developed by
those who are experienced in projects of this type to ensure high
success rates (coral survival as well as secure attachment). Methods
also have been developed to successfully attach octocorals (fans and
whips) as well as various sponge species. Feel free to contact me if you
would like further information.

 

 

Keith Spring

kspring at conshelf.com