Researchers Used Sound to Help Regrow Coral Reefs
Scientists are broadcasting reef soundscapes to encourage coral larvae to settle on degraded structures.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Environmental
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Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have used underwater recordings of snapping prawns and fish to attract coral larvae to damaged reefs. This innovative technique aims to restore decimated coral populations as warming oceans continue to trigger widespread bleaching events.
Why it matters
Rising ocean temperatures driven by climate change and El Niño events have caused a significant decline in global coral health, with massive bleaching events threatening to annihilate these ecosystems by the end of the century. Developing effective restoration methods is essential for protecting the biodiversity supported by these underwater structures.
Researchers are conducting coral restoration using special vibrating cups that transmit sounds of snapping prawns and fish to 1-millimetre coral larvae. This method relies on the larvae’s sensitivity to sonic cues while blocking out light and chemical signals.
The players
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
This Massachusetts-based non-profit organization is a world leader in oceanographic research, engineering, and marine exploration.
The details
The team at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is actively broadcasting vibrant reef soundscapes in the Caribbean Sea to encourage larvae to settle on degraded reefs. These restoration efforts are being paired with microbial inoculations and the relocation of corals to cooler waters to combat the effects of heat-related bleaching.
Timeline
1980–2009 served as the baseline period for calculating average hard coral cover.
Global bleaching event frequency began to increase in 1998.
2024 saw record heat and the largest single-year decline in hard coral cover of 8.9%.
A global coral bleaching event concluded in 2025.
Ocean temperatures and bleaching risks are projected to rise further in 2027.
The Big Picture
This research marks a departure from traditional passive conservation, shifting toward active bio-acoustic intervention to combat the legacy of the four global bleaching events recorded since 1998. It attempts to bridge the gap between ecological modeling and hands-on restoration to stave off the projected near-complete annihilation of reefs.
Successful large-scale implementation of sound-based restoration could eventually help stabilize local reef ecosystems and the coastal economies that depend on them. These advancements in coral larval settling could influence future restoration strategies for managing heat-stressed marine habitats.
The takeaway
While audio-based settlement offers a promising tool for restoration, it remains a supplementary effort against the backdrop of rising global ocean temperatures. Protecting existing coral reefs continues to rely heavily on international progress toward limiting global warming below the 1.5 °C threshold.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in marine protection in our Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nature.
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