Black Bar Soldier Fish on a Hawaiian reef in Maui.
Blue Ocean Mariculture has partnered with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and other conservation organizations to restore coral reefs using samples naturally grown on the company's net pens off the Kona Coast, Hawaii.
Thanks to the sustainable farming practices of Blue Ocean Mariculture, coral has naturally recruited and grown successfully on the structures of the fish pen.
Some coral was returned to the reef, while others were transferred to the ʻĀkoʻakoʻa Coral Restoration Nursery at the National Energy Laboratory of Hawaii, where they will receive specialized care.
This coral growth project, lasting nearly 11 years, has ensured its survival and future contributions to the health of the reefs.
"When the opportunity arose to contribute these coral samples for Hawaii's reef restoration efforts, we were eager to participate. It’s a point of pride for our team to play an active role in regenerating healthy reef ecosystems," expressed Blue Ocean Mariculture VP of Marine Operations Tyler Korte.
To remove the coral colonies, Blue Ocean Mariculture brought together divers from the DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Arizona State University (ASU), and their team.
This synergy aims to strengthen environmental sustainability and ensure the vitality of Hawaii's coastal waters for the future.
Regarding this, the CEO of Blue Ocean Mariculture, Dick Jones, stated: "This initiative demonstrates the powerful synergy between sustainable aquaculture and marine conservation."
Additionally, the DLNR's Coral Restoration Coordinator, Zachary Craig, highlighted the reliability of the floating pens: "This collaboration resulted in one of the largest collections of mature colonies I've seen on Hawaii Island."
In 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden announced plans to create a new national marine sanctuary designation to protect all U.S. waters in the Pacific Ocean, southwest of Hawaii.