The deployment of fibreglass artificial reef units increased opportunities for coral establishment, and supported at least 106 reef taxa, including 29 scleractinian genera after 10 years.
As vital components of restoration, coral nurseries comprising mesh-net platforms raised above the reef floor prevented sediment accumulation and smothering, and enabled the rearing of coral fragments and juveniles with reduced mortality. This included the nurturing of ‘corals of opportunity’ (naturally fragmented pieces of live coral lying on the reef bed as well as recruits settled on loose rubble), which would otherwise be killed by sedimentation.
Transplants of massive or encrusting species displayed higher survival over branching ones.
Restoration strategies need to be adapted to changed environmental
conditions caused by anthropogenic disturbances.