Musandam drive revives coral reefs

Muscat: The Environment Authority (EA) in Musandam Governorate is continuing the implementation of the Musandam Coral Park project to rehabilitate damaged marine sites, expand coral cover and support biodiversity. This is achieved by transplanting coral fragments onto eco-friendly concrete structures and aluminium plates as part of a monitoring and evaluation programme that runs through the end of 2029.
The project is one of the key environmental initiatives aimed at creating new marine habitats that contribute to the growth of coral reefs and the reproduction of fish and marine life. Additionally, it establishes a scientific database documenting the stages of transplantation, growth and survival rates, and environmental changes at the site.

Coral reefs represent one of the most vital marine ecosystems due to the shelter, feeding, and breeding grounds they provide for a vast number of marine organisms, alongside their role in maintaining ecological balance. However, they face several challenges resulting from climate change and human activities.
Abdulwahid bin Hassan al Kamzari, an EA official, said that the idea for the Musandam Coral Park came as a result of monitoring, follow-up, and field surveys conducted by the Authority under an approved environmental plan. These surveys revealed that several marine sites had been impacted by harmful practices, prompting the adoption of initiatives to restore ecological balance and enhance the sustainability of marine ecosystems.

Speaking to Oman newspaper, he added that project implementation began in 2023 with the deployment of 250 eco-friendly concrete structures at the designated park site to serve as the core for new marine habitats. Operations continued in 2024 with the addition of another 250 concrete structures, bringing the total number of submerged artificial structures to 500, supporting marine biodiversity and providing a suitable environment for marine life to thrive.
He explained that in 2025, the project entered a new phase focused on coral transplantation. Coral fragments were attached to 250 concrete structures, alongside the deployment of 50 aluminium plates planted with coral pieces, a step that enhances coral growth and recovery while boosting the site's environmental and tourism value.

He noted that field operations are continuing through 2026 to complete transplantation on the remaining 250 concrete structures and deploy an additional 50 aluminium plates. This is accompanied by numbering, follow-up, and evaluation efforts to measure the growth and survival rates of the transplanted coral fragments.
He further clarified that coral pieces are fixed onto the concrete structures and aluminium plates using specialised materials designed to withstand marine conditions without causing harm to the site, with the ultimate goal of expanding suitable areas for coral growth and the formation of new colonies.