Scientists freeze Great Barrier Reef coral in world-first trial

Source: The post is based on the article “Scientists freeze Great Barrier Reef coral in world-first trial” published in The Hindu on 24th December 2022. 

What is the News?

Scientists working on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have successfully trialled a new method for freezing and storing coral larvae.

What is the need for Freezing Coral?

1) As rising ocean temperatures destabilize the delicate ecosystems of Coral scientists are striving to protect coral reefs, 2) The Great Barrier Reef has suffered four bleaching events in the last seven years. This includes the first-ever bleach during a La Niña phenomenon, which typically brings cooler temperatures.

About the new method of cryomesh

Cryogenically frozen coral can be stored and later reintroduced to the wild but the current process requires sophisticated equipment including lasers.

But the scientists used a cryomesh. Scientists used the cryomesh to freeze coral larvae for the first time in the world with Great Barrier Reef coral.

Note: The cryomesh was previously trialled on smaller and larger varieties of the Hawaiian corals. A trial on the larger variety failed.

What is the Cryomesh technology?

The mesh technology will help store coral larvae at -196°C (-320.8°F).

a) This new method could eventually help rewild reefs threatened by climate change, b) The new lightweight “cryomesh” can be manufactured cheaply and better preserves coral, c) The cryomesh technology will actually help to support some of the aquaculture and restoration interventions.