Coral reefs, dubbed the rainforests of the sea, play a critical role in preventing marine ecosystems from disappearing and are home to 25% of marine life. This is according to Pratley Putty, which has joined forces with Oceans without Borders in an attempt to rehabilitate the reefs.
Established in mid-2021, the Coral Nursery Project, spearheaded by Oceans without Borders, has become a beacon of hope for the ever-declining reefs around Mnemba Island near Zanzibar. Marine rangers maintain and nurture the coral gardens. Broken pieces of parent coral are collected from all over the reefs then the putty is used to secure the fragments to special discs, which are then added to underwater coral nurseries.
“Pratley Putty has proved to be stronger and longer-lasting in seawater than any other glue that we tested, thereby giving the transplanted coral the best chance of survival,” notes Principal Scientist of the restoration project, Dr Tessa Hempson.
Pratley Putty is a slightly water-soluble, hand-mouldable, high-performance, putty-like adhesive that is ideal for use under water. It is so strong that it has even been used to refloat partially sunken ships and to repair boats at sea.
“This is not the first time Pratley Putty has been used in conservation projects,” says Pratley MD, Eldon Kruger. “A green sea turtle had its damaged shell repaired with Pratley Putty, while researchers have also used it to stick radio transmitters to the scales of pangolins when studying them in the wild.”
