Boosting coral resilience with nutritional supplements

Australia, Oceania
Malaysia, Asia
Monaco, Europe
Indonesia, Asia
Climate adaptation and resilience

Credits: Emma Camp

Facing a challenge

Coral reefs are declining worldwide due to climate change, pollution, disease outbreaks, and overexploitation, all of which place increasing stress on coral populations. As these pressures intensify and often occur simultaneously, corals are more frequently exposed to conditions that affect their health and survival. While research shows that both the quantity and quality of nutrients can influence coral survival and development, it remains unclear which nutrients are most effective and how they should be applied. This is especially important because most coral reefs naturally exist in low-nutrient environments. Further research is needed to better understand how nutrition can support coral resilience.

Credits: Emma Camp

With an innovative solution

This project aims to improve coral health and resilience by developing a nutritional supplement, CoraBoost, which can be applied before or during periods of stress. To achieve this, the team will:

Test different supplement components using enriched live food containing controlled doses of trace elements, lipids, and antioxidants (tested individually)
Identify which nutrients most effectively improve coral fitness during heat stress
Optimise how these nutrients are delivered to corals
Combine the most effective components into the final CoraBoost formulation, using optimised doses of trace elements, lipids, and antioxidants
Trial CoraBoost on both tropical and cold-water corals to assess its effects under normal and heat-stress conditions
Scale up production and conduct large-scale trials in three aquaculture systems, testing the benefits of CoraBoost on more than 15,000 corals and associated organisms

Credits: Carla Lourenço

What impact looks like

Development of a nutritional supplement that enhances coral health and survival during heat stress
Creation of an open-access formulation to enable widespread use and maximise global impact

Project Title

CoraBoost — A nutritional supplement to boost coral resilience

Lead applicant

Dr. Emma Camp

Co-applicants

Affendi Amri, Prof. Christine Ferrier-Pages, Dr. Jennifer Matthews, Prof. Phillip Doble, Dr. Jonathan Moorhead, Dr. Joseph Henry, Cakra Adiwijaya

Countries involved

Australia, Malaysia, Monaco, and Indonesia

Takes place

Australia, Malaysia, Monaco, and Indonesia

Supporting institutions

University of Technology Sydney, University of Malaya, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monsoon Aquatics, CoralKU, Gili Matra Bersama Foundation/Coral Catch, Gili Shark Conservation

Total budget

USD 1,466,397.00

Duration

March 2024 – November 2026

- Identified the optimal timing and dosage of supplements to reduce coral bleaching
- Developed microcapsules containing nutritional supplements
- Tested and validated the use of enriched live food for coral feeding
- Trained 30 participants in coral nutrition and restoration techniques
- Identified effective nutrient delivery methods (including manganese, lipids, and antioxidants) to improve coral thermal tolerance
- Increased coral survival under heat stress by 20% using supplemented diets
- Reached more than 20,000 people through outreach and social media
2026