FAQ's
What are the sculptures MADE OF?
Every element, from the structures to the attachment wire is made from marine-grade stainless steel, a material renowned for its stability underwater—it neither leaches nor corrodes, making it the safest option for underwater use. Counting Coral uses this
material for all of their installations.​
​Why do we only use marine-grade stainless steel?
Counting Coral avoids using materials like plastic, rope, string, or cement, which could potentially harm the reefs or marine life. While many conservation techniques are effective
for planting coral, they often have adverse effects on the reef, such as corrosion, microplastic pollution, and chemical leaching, which contradict our principles. Marine-grade stainless steel not only aligns with our environmental commitments but also proves highly effective for coral attachment, allowing coral to grow on and over it swiftly and easily.
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What is the installation timeline?
The timeline for installing the sculptures is dependent on the size, location, and team members. The on-site installation and coral planting process each require about 2-3 weeks
to complete. Consequently, a full installation typically spans 4-6 weeks, involving daily
work and 2-3 dives each day.
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What are 'secondary nurseries'?
Secondary nurseries are smaller, artistically designed structures by Counting Coral, where coral fragments from the 'parent corals' are nurtured until they are robust enough to be transplanted back onto the reef.
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What are 'parent corals'?
Parent corals are robust specimens kept in the gene bank, chosen for their resilience.
They attach to the sculptures and remain as part of the permanent installation,continuously monitored and used as sources for fragments that populate secondary nurseries.
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how do we choose a partner?
Partnering with and selecting a recipient for a park demands meticulous surveying to ensure the area is appropriate for our projects and that the partnering establishment can fulfill its commitments. Most importantly, we collaborate with the local village that holds the rights to the reefs to guarantee their support of our work. We donate the sculptural coral gene banks, but they are also available for purchase and installation at your location. If you're interested in becoming a partner resort or would like to inquire about purchasing a park, please click here.
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How is the location of the park selected?
We choose flat, sandy locations, to ensure the sculptures can be staked onto the seafloor.
We choose a location close to existing reefs to facilitate natural marine processes like fish migration and coral spawning between the sculpture and the reef.
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How are the parks transported to Fiji's islands?
The sculptures undergo months of design and manufacturing before being shipped from Long Beach, CA to Fiji's Lautoka Harbor, a journey taking 3-4 weeks overseas. From there, our team transports them via a smaller boat directly to the island.
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What was the installation timeline at vomo?
Installing the sculptures for the Vomo Project took approximately three weeks, followed by another two weeks to plant the coral. In total, the Counting Coral team spent between 4-5 weeks on-site, with a team of 4-6 members.​
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What was the installation timeline at BLUE LAGOON?
Installing the sculptures for the Blue Lagoon Project took approximately three weeks,
followed by another three weeks to plant the coral. In total, the Counting Coral team
spent around 6 weeks on Nacula Island, with a team of 4-8 members.
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​​Why don't we plant coral in shallow water?
Counting Coral’s sculptures and coral planting occur between 12-20 feet under the surface, primarily because the water tends to be cooler at this depth. Corals in shallow waters are more vulnerable to bleaching, both in natural settings and restoration projects. Global studies indicate that ocean temperatures are unlikely to decrease anytime soon and are expected to rise. While we cannot control ocean temperatures, we can choose where to place the corals to maximize their health and resilience. Since we aim not to harvest corals only for them to die, we choose deeper, cooler waters for planting. This depth provides the corals a better chance to withstand bleaching events. The corals we use for our sculptures are sourced from the same depths at which they will be replanted, ensuring a consistent environment for their acclimation and growth.
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How is the sculpture maintained?
In the initial months following the installation of a gene bank, attentive maintenance is crucial to prevent algae from smothering the developing corals. The structures must be gently cleaned, ensuring that the corals are not obscured by any debris. Initially, this involves weekly cleaning sessions. As the ecosystem stabilizes, the need for maintenance decreases, though ongoing monitoring of the gene bank will always be necessary.
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What if the corals on the Gene Bank die?
We select strong, durable corals for planting onto the sculptures; however, if any die, they are replaced as they are considered non-resilient. This ensures the strength of our 'parent coral' stock, which is crucial since these corals form a gene bank designed to be resilient and exceptionally sturdy, capable of withstanding temperature fluctuations and other environmental stressors. This stock is vital as it continuously supplies corals for out-planting. Maintaining hardy corals is essential because the lack of resilience is a common reason for coral loss in restoration projects.
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How do we ensure the sculpture's stability?
The sculptures are engineered to interact dynamically with water currents and are anchored to the seafloor with stakes and specialized underwater equipment to ensure stability.
With each installation, we gain new techniques and deepen our understanding of the
ocean environment. Additionally, we frequently travel to the gene banks to perform maintenance and verify the stability of the sculptures.
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What is 'Coral of Opportunity' or 'Opportunistic Coral'?
This term refers to coral that has been damaged, broken, and no longer attached to the reef, but still has live parts. These corals, often distressed by physical impacts or environmental factors, are relocated to our structures, giving them a chance to recover
and thrive.
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WhEN DO THE SECONDARY NURSERIES GET INSTALLED?
The secondary nurseries are installed a year after the sculptural coral gene bank has been established. Initially, these nurseries are left in the ocean without coral for a certain period to allow them to encrust with ocean elements making the environment more conducive for the coral's transition. The timing for fragmenting the parent corals depends on their growth rate on the gene bank. ​
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