Will 3D Printed Reefs Be the Answer to Diminishing Coral?

[Brian_Krassenstein]

The demise of the coral reefs around the world is a huge concern as we need these natural structures on many different levels. They are degrading for a number of different reasons too—from building of infrastructure to tourism accidents. Now, it’s hoped that 3D printing may be able to intervene and help with fabricated reefs that might be able to attract coral polyps, ‘convincing’ them to plant themselves on the structure and stay, thus allowing for new growth. Read more at 3DPrint.com: http://3dprint.com/124869/3d-printed-coral-reefs/

[awerby]

This seems like a silly idea. If corals are dying because of climate change, putting a lot of 3d-printed garbage on the ocean floor isn't going to bring them back. The article speaks of providing homes for free-floating coral polyps, but if they're dying anyway this won't restore them to life. If the naturally-occurring coral skeletons already present there aren't suitable, why would some porcelain-coated printed structures work any better? Add to this basic improbability the slowness and expense of the 3D printing process, and this sounds less like a solution to an ecological crisis and more like a way to produce some Disneyland version of a coral reef that can be planted near a beach hotel for tourists who don't know any better to swim around in.