脆弱天堂 06

In Fiji, biologists are working with fishermen

to bring the fish back by replanting the reefs.

This is a coral nursery.

But with wild corals already struggling

Where have these coral seedlings come from?

The coral gardeners monitor the reef

Looking for corals that need a helping hand.

Despite all this real estate

Many corals end up clustered together.

Crowded out, they will eventually die

So the gardeners uproot them, creating more space for some

And giving the uprooted ones a fresh start.

Each coral head is broken down into a dozen or more fingers

And each of these is tied onto a concrete disc.

As every gardener knows

Vigorous growth requires sunlight, plenty of nutrients

And the right temperature.

So the coral gardeners choose just the spot.

Within six months, the corals are branching out.

They're spaced out onto adjacent tables

And a year or two after planting, they're ready for harvesting.

The coral heads are broken down once more.

In the space of two years

A single finger of coral has multiplied into 50 or more.