Irish scientists help damaged coral with 3D-printed reefs

Scientists from University of Galway and French partners have placed 23 eco-concrete structures on the seabed 200 kilometres off the Kerry coast and in the Bay of Biscay to restore cold-water coral reefs damaged by trawling. The metre-high reefs, seeded with live coral, are already showing signs of ecosystem recovery at depths of 500 metres to 1 kilometre.

The project is in early stages; researchers plan to return next year to assess results.