Coral Reef Restoration Program

Plant a Coral at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa

Our Mission

In 2023, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa teamed up with Reef Safari to start its coral propagation program. The aim of this project is to rebuild the reef structure by placing coral fragments on metal frames around the resort’s house reef, rejuvenating the reef and allowing guests to see their corals grow over time. 

After storms and strong waves, there are often pieces of living coral broken off the reef. These pieces are likely to die eventually or even bump into other corals and break them. Our coral frames technique offers the best solution to rescue these coral fragments and use them to rebuild the reef structure. 

This strategy has short-term and long-term goals. The short-term goals are to improve the reef structure, which will see more fish life move to these areas. Recent scientific studies have shown that having more marine life results in the recruitment of more coral larvae to the area, thus our long-term goal is to increase the natural recruitment of coral larvae.

How Does Coral Planting Work?

Our Coral Planting Safari starts every Sunday at 9 AM FJT. Guests meet at Reef Safari shack located near Toba Bar & Grill. Guided by the Resorts Marine Biologist Makalesi Nalasi, you will start off by making cement balls or "cookies" followed by a boat ride to rescue the coral fragments for planting. After collection, you will be taken to a dedicated site for transferring coral fragments and attaching them to the cement balls or "cookies", which are then placed in the water by our marine biologist. Our team will be posting regular updates online, where you can follow its progress.

Within 6 months of being attached to the frames, the corals start to grow new branches, and fish start returning. Within a year, they grow up to 15cm in length. Within 3 years, you have a small reef that will eventually grow onto the natural reef substrate.

Reef Safari together with Marine Biologist regularly maintain the frames and follows a strict monitoring program by taking photographs of all the frames every 6 months. This allows us to follow the coral growth and refine our propagation techniques over time.

 

How Is The Progress?

The initial stage of our artificial reef project was successfully set up in early 2023. We identified two sites around the resort. This represents a potential of 3,000 coral fragments to be planted in the next twelve months. 

To ensure the success of the program, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa has appointed a dedicated Reef Safari marine biologist, resident at the resort, to lead weekly interactive coral-plating activities, conduct marine life educational workshops and guided snorkelling tours.

All the coral frames are monitored every 6 months and photos are uploaded on this webpage.