A staged and layered approach to restoring turbid nearshore coral reefs

The ecosystem services provided by turbid nearshore coral reef ecosystems support the livelihoods of almost a billion people globally. Yet these services are threatened by ocean warming, coupled with population growth, overfishing and changing land-use practices that drive deteriorating water quality. While novel approaches to reef restoration are being developed in an attempt to build reef resilience and safeguard coral persistence through the Anthropocene, many interventions are being tested on offshore and/or clear-water reefs. Here we contend that the suite of challenging conditions faced by turbid nearshore coral reefs hinder the direct translation of restoration methods developed outside of this context. Drawing on learnings from terrestrial and coastal restoration, we advocate for an integrated, phased approach to nearshore reef restoration that addresses site-specific challenges. The approach includes (1) a habitat modification and enhancement stage aimed at facilitating natural recovery and priming the site ahead of coral restoration, (2) a coral delivery stage, and (3) a final stage of protection and maintenance of the rehabilitated site. Concomitantly, protecting and restoring connected and adjacent habitats should be prioritised, alongside improvements in catchment and reef management, including the regulation of extractive activities. Most importantly, strong action on climate change is essential to ensure restoration efforts and investments are not wasted.