Prior to planting, a series of underwater surveys are completed to characterize biodiversity, so that changes that result from reintroducing crayweed can be adequately quantified.

With the support of our project partner Operation Crayweed, this project involves the transplantation of healthy, fertile adults from existing populations and attaching them to deforested rocks using mats made of biodegradable mesh drilled into the bottom of the rocky reef.

The newly reproduced ‘baby’ crayweed is attached to the reef, forming the basis of a new, self-sustaining population, which expands from the initially restored patch. Divers then continuously monitor the project site for crayweed survival and the return of marine life to the area. This process has already proven successful as adult crayweed has been observed hundreds of meters from the original patch.

By creating patches of transplanted crayweed on a reef, we are restoring forests of this essential species. Through this effort, we are also restoring its marine biodiversity and increasing the likelihood of critical marine species returning to the area and thriving as they once did.