Coral reefs are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. They support marine biodiversity, protect coastlines from erosion, and sustain economies through fisheries and tourism. Yet, climate change is accelerating reef degradation, pushing scientists and policymakers to explore novel restoration interventions—new technologies and approaches designed to help reefs adapt and recover.

While these innovations offer hope, they also present significant policy and governance challenges. A recent study, led by Dr Nicole Shumway, Policy, Sustainability and Innovation (PSI) research group, explores how governance systems have an opportunity to evolve to better support reef restoration efforts.

What Are Novel Reef Interventions?

New reef restoration techniques range from:

• Assisted evolution – helping corals adapt to warmer waters.
• Coral seeding – transplanting juvenile corals to regenerate damaged reefs.
• Marine cloud brightening – reflecting sunlight to cool ocean temperatures.

Projects like Australia’s Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) and the United States’ Mission Iconic Reefs initiative are testing these methods at scale, but their success depends not only on science—but on the policies that govern them.

The Governance Challenge

Despite their promise, these interventions may face policy roadblocks. Most existing governance frameworks are designed to protect reefs rather than actively intervene in their restoration. This creates significant barriers to approving, funding, and scaling up new solutions.

The PSI research group’s study highlights three key governance considerations:

• Policy flexibility – Regulations would benefit from adapting to evolving science and the uncertainties of climate change.
• Inclusive decision-making – Effective restoration efforts should involve collaboration with Traditional Owners, local communities, scientists, and industry.
• Scaling up efforts – Reef restoration policies needs to move beyond small-scale trials to coordinated, large-scale interventions.

The Way Forward

There is an opportunity for governance frameworks to evolve in ways that enable reef restoration while maintaining ecological integrity and public trust. Policies should strike a balance between risk, regulation, and innovation, ensuring that restoration efforts complement—not replace—urgent climate action and carbon emissions reduction.

The future of coral reefs depends not just on scientific breakthroughs, but on the policies that enable—or constrain—their application.

For more insights, read the full study.