CORAL FARMING | METHOD | BUY A CORAL SAVE A REEF
CORAL FARMING
While simple techniques are used, coral farming and coral gardening both require specialist training, as corals are quite sensitive and are also quite easy to kill. PCDF and Counterpart understand the potential risks posed to the coral reef system, should people try to replicate these methods on their own without proper training and without the proper permissions obtained from government authorities.
The following measures have been taken to ensure all farming practices are sustainable:
- Resorts and Communities that are interested in setting up their own coral farms or coral gardening sites must have established a marine management plan, with 25-30% of all marine resources closed to fishing;
- Community members and resort staff must also go through our reef ecosystem awareness program, and the Fiji Department of Environment has recognized PCDF/Counterpart as the only NGO in Fiji able to conduct coral farming training presently;
- Coral Farms and coral gardening sites are monitored by project staff to ensure proper methods of coral cultivation, such as coral farm site selection, second-generation status of all corals, the establishment of a restoration sites associated with each coral farm, etc.;
- CITES export permits for any coral product are authorized by the Ministry of Environment, stating that the coral is a farmed second-generation product. Corals cannot be sold without an official seal of approval and signature from the Ministry of Environment.
This permission is currently restricted to PCDF/Counterpart.
