Coral reefs are important for a quarter of marine species on the planet that they
support and they are also significant for humans. Coral reefs act as a protector of coastlines from erosion and storms, they provide an area of recreational activity for humans, along with providing humans jobs. Coral acts as a source for food, with 10-12% of fish in tropical countries being caught on reefs and 20-25% of fish being caught on reefs in developing nations. Additionally, coral functions as medicine for humans. It is commonly used by surgeons to replace bone or as a calcium supplement to treat cancer, heart disease, and other conditions. Coral reefs are like the rainforest of the ocean, believed to hold the largest biodiversity of any other ecosystem on earth. Therefore, it is no wonder why many people travel great lengths to see the extraordinary world of coral firsthand. Unfortunately, with ocean temperatures rising from climate change, scientists project that 70-90% of coral reefs may be extinct by 2050. Unfortunately, by 2100 the future of coral may be non-existent.

However, through coral farming practices, it is possible to turn those statistics around. To perform this practice sustainably, it must be done with intention and thought out in a frame using ecology. It is important to know which species are the right ones to farm, even if there may seem to be an abundance of a specific one. Over-extracting coral species that appear to be abundant can disrupt the balance of marine ecosystems as some species of coral play a larger role than others. In turn, this impacts the biodiversity of the entire ecosystem. The benefit of nursing coral in captive environments and then reintroducing them to restoration sites is that the nursed coral has the possibility of revitalizing a dying reef. In an aquarium setting, coral fragmentation is beneficial because it helps enhance coral populations. When we fragment pieces at Seastainable Supply, it gives customers the opportunity to pick out their own fragments, while allowing wild coral populations to multiply.

Our company is proud to partner with individuals who participate in sustainable coral farming practices. We obtain coral that has been chosen intentionally, typically fragments that have already fallen off their parent corals or through coral being propagated on aquaculture farms. These wild corals and fragments are then placed onto some other hard substrate, nursed to health, and replanted onto a reef or shipped to us. Our partnership allows coral farms to be further developed and for more reefs to be restored.