On 5 April 2024, the first five Paneltim coral spiders were dropped into the water. On 10 April 2024, another two are installed. On 12 May 2024, a first monitoring round was executed and the structures are doing well. In July 2024 and October 2024, monitoring was conducted and new pictures were taken. 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.

On 5 April 2024, the first Go Ocean member coral spider was dropped into the water. Coral fragments supported by multiple Go Ocean members (Utopia Events, Cryus, Notaris Alexis Brusselmans, and Sarah Parent) are attached to the spider. On 12 May 2024, a first monitoring round was executed and the structure is doing well. In July 2024, a second Go Ocean member coral spider was dropped into the water, with coral fragments for Just Jane, Cryus, BUFFL, CEOs 4 Climate, Komma Board, and Belgisch Centrum voor Geleidehonden. In September 2024, a third Go Ocean member coral spider was installed, with coral fragments for Just Jane, Paneltim, Greenspeed USA, Aquaox, Cryus, and several individuals. A new monitoring round on the three structures was executed on October 31, 2024. In January 2025, a 6th Go Ocean member coral spider was dropped into the water, with coral fragments for Jana Under The Sea, Aquaox, Greenspeed USA, Cryus, and Steven Wilberts. In March 2025, the 4th and 5th coral spider were installed with a little delay. These carry the following member's corals: Impaktfull, Just Jane, Greenspeed USA, Jonas Bary, Valipac, Cryus, Better World Marketing, and Notaris Alexis Brusselmans. In May and June 2025, the 7th and 8th coral spiders were installed, including fragments by Organise-IT, Just Jane, Better World Marketing, Cryus, Lago, Aquaox, Greenspeed USA, and individual members. In July 2025, the 9th and 10th coral spiders were installed, including fragments by our individual members, Cryus, and Just Jane. In October, we installed a second 10th coral spider (miscalculation :-) ). 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.

Before 1850, European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) reefs were a dominant structural and ecological feature of the North Sea. Due to human impact and the spread of a persistent oyster parasite, these reefs have now nearly disappeared. Yet oyster reefs remain vital ecosystems. Often referred to as "ecosystem engineers", they provide habitats that support a wide array of marine life. The government, industry and science join forces to tackle the challenges of restoring oyster reefs, a complex operation that requires both innovation and interdisciplinary expertise. The logistical complexity, coupled with the sensitivity of oysters to disturbance—during seeding of hard reef substrates with oyster larvae, as well as their subsequent transport and installation at sea— requires in-depth knowledge across multiple fields of expertise. The BELREEFS project, commissioned by the Belgian Federal Public Service (FPS) Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment as part of the action T4.8 of the LIFE Belgium for Biodiversity programme (101069526), exemplifies this collaborative spirit. It brings together Jan De Nul Group, the Institute of Natural Sciences, Shells & Valves, and Mantis Consulting, with guidance from the Native Oyster Restoration Alliance (NORA) and additional support from Go Ocean. BELREEFS consists of three phases: identifying suitable sites in existing gravel beds for kick-starting new oyster reefs, deploying substrates seeded with oyster larvae, and guiding the development of self-sustaining reefs that attract and support other marine species—thereby enhancing biodiversity. These reefs provide essential shelter, feeding and breeding grounds for a wide variety of marine flora and fauna. To maximize reef survival and reproduction, BELREEFS identified locations with the most suitable seabed and environmental conditions, as well as natural protection from damage. Detailed seabed mapping, led by the Institute of Natural Sciences, informed decisions regarding the reef deployment location. Furthermore, the project builds on key innovations—such as developing reef installation methods and refining ‘remote setting’ techniques, whereby oyster larvae produced elsewhere settle on reef substrates in laboratory conditions before being deployed at sea. Once deployed, the new oyster reefs will be closely monitored for several years to assess their development and ecological impact. "The European flat oyster has always been an important core species in our North Sea, but it has today nearly disappeared. The active restoration of these oyster populations is therefore a priority for us. The fact that we can collaborate on this scale with scientists and industry is truly unique". - FPS Public Health, Marine Environment Department Timing: Summer 2025 - 1st installation of oyster reef substrates Summer 2026 - 2nd installation of oyster reef substrates (including the first 1082 Go Ocean oyster batches). Summer 2027 - 3rd installation of oyster reef substrates (only Go Ocean oysters, with 1836 batches as the goal).

Mangroves are an important piece of the ecosystem that offers much more than we can imagine. From being a great habitat for wildlife species, being great protection for coasts, and bringing an economical added value to the local population, it also is one of the greatest sources of carbon sequestration. The total area of mangrove forest in Madagascar covers about 20% of African mangroves and 2% of the world's mangroves. However, the mangrove forests of Bombetoka Bay suffered a 34% loss between 1990 and 2000 (Report on the state of mangroves in Madagascar - WWF Madagascar) and this loss represents a significant threat to biological biodiversity and the living conditions of local communities. Today, the mangrove can no longer play its economic and social role, which justifies the search for initiatives and alternatives for the revitalization of this natural ecosystem. This revitalization should respond to the concern for the preservation and ecological balance of this environment that is so vital for the local populations. The project, in cooperation with the social enterprise Bôndy, consists of planting mangroves in the Bombetoka Bay located in the North-West of Madagascar, more specifically in the municipality of Boanamary (Maromiandra village) and Amparimahitsy (Belobaka village). The overall objective is to restore degraded lands and promote better management of the mangrove ecosystem to improve the living conditions of the local communities. Moreover, the mangroves provide spawning grounds for shrimps, crabs, and fish and 45% of the seafood sold in Majunga (a city of 240,000 inhabitants in the region) comes from the local commune. Our goal is therefore to boost the economy of the community. Over the entire area, this project can restore 400ha of degraded land by planting 2.4 million mangroves, and we aim to sequester more than 1.5 million tCO2 over the life of the project.

On this 0.13-hectare site, in the Bombetoka Bay located in the North-West of Madagascar, more specifically in the village of Amparimahitsy (Belobaka municipality, Boeny), we're planting new mangrove trees to restore the mangrove forest. In April 2025, 848 mangrove trees of two species were planted here: Ceriops tagal and Rhizophora mucronata. The overall objective is to restore degraded lands and promote better management of the mangrove ecosystem to improve the living conditions of the local communities. Moreover, the mangroves provide spawning grounds for shrimps, crabs, and fish, which helps to boost the economy of the community.