Revolutionizing Coral Conservation: Unlocking the Potential of AIMS' Tech Innovations
The race to save our reefs is on, and AIMS is leading the charge with cutting-edge technology. But what does it take to restore coral reefs on a massive scale? Get ready to dive into the world of coral aquaculture and discover the game-changing innovations that are propelling AIMS' efforts into the future.
AutoSpawner: The Coral Maternity Ward
But first, let's talk about the AutoSpawner, a groundbreaking system that's like a maternity ward for corals. It's designed to be a fully automated coral breeding powerhouse.
What's the deal?
The AutoSpawner is an aquaria system that harvests coral eggs and sperm during spawning, then produces fertilized eggs with minimal human intervention. It's like having a robotic midwife for corals!
How does it work?
When corals spawn, the AutoSpawner skims the water's surface to collect egg and sperm bundles (gametes). These are mixed in a fertilization tank to ensure diverse genetic combinations. The system calculates sperm concentration to determine the perfect fertilization time, then washes off excess sperm, leaving fertilized eggs to develop into larvae.
Why is it a game-changer?
During busy spawning nights, the AutoSpawner allows AIMS to breed more corals with less human effort, freeing scientists for other critical tasks. It's a massive time and cost saver, reducing labor costs by up to 100-fold compared to manual methods. Each AutoSpawner can produce over 7 million fertilized eggs in a single night!
Where are we now?
In the 2024/25 season, AIMS had two AutoSpawners, but now they have eight, thanks to the brilliant minds of Andrea Severati and Dr. Mikaela Nordborg.
Coral Spawn and Larvae Imaging Camera System (CSLICS): The Ultimate Baby Monitor
Now, meet CSLICS, the ultimate baby monitor for coral larvae.
What's its superpower?
CSLICS uses computer vision, a type of AI, to estimate the number of free-floating coral larvae in their rearing tanks, typically holding around half a million larvae.
How does it work its magic?
A network of computerized cameras uses AI algorithms to continuously assess larvae numbers in each tank. The data is fed to a central server that synchronizes the cameras, processes the data, and displays the results. This system allows humans to manage the cameras, lighting, and other installations, providing real-time data for monitoring larvae batches.
Why is it crucial?
Coral larvae are delicate and can crash in population within hours, so regular monitoring is essential. Previously, this was done manually by counting larvae under a microscope, which was time-consuming and labor-intensive. CSLICS speeds up this process, allowing early detection of issues. It also helps distribute corals evenly across experiments and provides insights into how larvae respond to different conditions.
What's the latest?
Twenty-four CSLICS tanks were installed at SeaSim and tested during the 2025/26 spawning season. A desktop prototype is also being trialed for remote work and smaller experiments.
Coral Growout Robotic Assessment System (CGRAS): Childcare for Baby Corals
If CSLICS is the baby monitor, CGRAS is the childcare system for baby corals.
What's its role?
CGRAS is a new camera system used when coral larvae settle on tiles.
How does it work?
CGRAS uses a high-resolution submersible camera with a macroscopic lens, like a waterproof microscope, mounted on a robotic arm. It captures close-ups of coral babies on tiles, currently across two tanks with 25 tiles each. AI automatically detects and counts the tiny corals, tracking their growth over time.
Why is it important?
These young corals need monitoring to ensure their health. Manually counting corals on a single tile takes about an hour. With thousands of tiles, the labor costs and time required become impractical without automation. CGRAS also helps analyze the relationship between rearing strategies and baby coral performance, aiding decisions for higher survival rates.
What's the status?
CGRAS was employed full-time at SeaSim during the 2025/26 spawning season after years of development and testing.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): ID Cards for Baby Corals
RFID is like an ID card system for baby corals, tracking their journey to the Reef.
What's its function?
RFID keeps tabs on coral locations in SeaSim and on the Reef. RFID transmitters with unique IDs are scanned as corals move through stages, digitally tracking their progress.
How does it work?
Each large tile where larvae settle and grow has an RFID chip. These tiles are divided into small squares and inserted into coral seeding devices, which are then placed on metal spikes (spigots) for transportation, 18 devices per spigot. RFID transmitters on each spigot track corals during transit by road and boat to specific reefs. Once deployed, the unique ID is linked to GPS coordinates.
Why is it essential?
During spawning season, AIMS runs experiments with various coral species from different Great Barrier Reef locations. RFID ensures accurate tracking, especially with the growing number of devices returning to the Reef each season.
What's the update?
Every coral device spigot heading to the Reef in 2025/26 has been RFID-enabled.
Deployment Guidance System (DGS): AI-Powered Coral Delivery Service
DGS is an AI-powered delivery service, guiding baby corals to the best reef locations.
What's its specialty?
DGS is the only ocean-based tech on the list, combining marine robotics and AI. It can be used from various vessels to place coral seeding devices in promising locations for coral growth.
How does it work?
DGS pre-selects sites using computer models based on reef ecologists' research. Cameras and real-time AI analysis guide device deployment, providing autonomous vessel guidance and geotagging for later monitoring.
Why is it significant?
The Great Barrier Reef is immense, and DGS speeds up the decision-making process for coral deployment, ensuring the best chances of success. It automates device placement and can be used from autonomous surface vehicles to reach remote reef areas.
What's the progress?
DGS has been undergoing on-water testing since mid-2025, evaluating its performance on different vessels and reef locations.
And the story continues...
These innovations are just the beginning of AIMS' journey to restore and protect our precious coral reefs. But here's where it gets controversial: are these technological advancements enough to combat the threats facing our reefs? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let's keep the conversation going!
