Reef Rehabilitation Experiments: A Review of Results & Lessons Learned

Julian Hyde, Alvin Jeyanathan Chelliah, Chen Sue Yee. 2013. Reef Rehabilitation Experiments: A Review of Results & Lessons Learned. Reef Check Malaysia.

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Foreword

In late 2009, we were approached by a group of snorkelling guides from Pangkor island, who were concerned about their snorkelling sites. Development, tourists and climate change have all taken their toll, and today snorkelling sites around Pangkor are in poor condition, the guides‟ livelihoods at risk.

The guides asked if we could help to improve the sites, and we agreed to try. Thus began our initial experiments in coral reef rehabilitation. Since then, we have faced numerous challenges – and we have had our successes. Many lessons have been learned, and we have incorporated these into our approach and methodology, as part of a process of continual improvement.

This document reviews the various installations and presents the results at each, highlighting the lessons learned to date. Our aim is to assist others who are considering reef rehabilitation programmes to avoid the mistakes we made, and to benefit from our experience.