On 5 April 2024, the FOWND coral spider was dropped into the water. On 10 April 2024, coral fragments were attached to the coral spider. On 12 May 2024, a first monitoring round was executed and the structure is doing well. In July and October 2024, new monitoring pictures were taken and the results are again positive! In March, 2025, the second FOWND coral spider was dropped into the water. Fownd #3 and Sea Me Diving #1 installed in February 2026. When using the spider technique, individual metal structures are welded together by local villagers. Once the spider is created, a coat of cement paint is applied. This prevents the leaching of iron into the ecosystem and acts as an attractive base of attachment for the coral. On the upward-facing part of the spider, an engraved name tag made from bamboo is placed. After that, it’s time to go into the ocean, for the first time at least. The spiders are left in the ocean for 4 - 6 weeks to become coated in coralline algae. Once the spiders are coated in algae, mixed reef planting techniques are carried out. The reef is carefully combed to find naturally broken, yet still living coral fragments from a variety of coral genera. These fragments are then attached to the spiders using zip ties. As the zip ties become overgrown, excess material is carefully removed to avoid harming wildlife. We attach 16 coral fragments to one coral spider and each spider occupies 0,35 square meters of seafloor. Through the customization of a spider with a name tag, the spider technique allows for transparent monitoring of the coral growth and reef health. This tailored approach ensures transparent and effortless reporting on the progress of restoration efforts.

Coral reefs are resilient ecosystems found throughout the oceans, from deep, cold waters to shallow, tropical waters. However, because of increased frequency of threats and disturbances, the reefs get damaged and often do not have enough time to naturally repair themselves. With this coral reef restoration project, we are rebuilding damaged — and expanding healthy — coral reefs, so they can provide all the coral reef ecosystem benefits. In the restoration, we use a variety of coral species and different nursery and reef restoration methods depending on the location and needs of the reef being restored. All work is done by the local communities or interns that are trained for these techniques and receive an income from maintaining and gardening the ocean the same way they do on land. The projects do not only create an ecological but also social and economic positive impact. Besides rebuilding the reefs, reducing the local threats, engaging communities and tourists, and bringing more awareness are also very important.

In 2024, between May and July (the planting season), and with the help of over 40 volunteers, we harvested, processed, and replanted over 8,000 seagrass plants - rhizomes - in Loch Craignish over an area measuring approximately 485 square meters of seabed. We focused on a single area, Dun Mhuilig Bay, adjacent to an existing seagrass meadow, where the seabed has positive oxygen levels. The seagrass was planted in bundles, each covering 1 square meter of seabed. The most southern polygon was transplanted from 6 to 11 May, 2024. The first and second polygon above were transplanted from 4 to 8 June, 2024, and from 21 to 25 June, 2024. The most northern polygon was transplanted from 16 to 19 July, 2024.

With the help of 47 incredible volunteers from the UK, Europe, and beyond, our local team in Scotland transplanted 20,000 shoots over a five-week sprint this spring, potentially creating 2,600 m² of new seagrass meadow. That’s a 300% increase from last year’s efforts. They're growing, literally and figuratively. In 2024, we often planted bundles of 10 shoots at 2 bundles per square metre. This year, we switched it up: 1 bundle per square metre, and half of those only had 5 shoots. If this lower-density method works, it could quadruple our restoration capacity. We also kicked things off six weeks ahead of schedule this year, planting 2,000 shoots in late March. We’re testing if we can extend the planting season to gain more flexibility and free up time for oyster restoration later in the summer. Until now, all transplanting has happened next to existing seagrass meadows. But this year, we went bold: we planted in two areas where eDNA analysis suggested seagrass used to grow: - A site in Loch Craignish capped with land-quarried sand (see more on Van Oord below) - A completely new site in Loch Beag, just next door