All over the world, coral reefs are dying out. Since the 1950s, more than half of all coral reefs around the world have died out, which has led to a less biodiverse ocean, something truly terrible for the environment. While scientists are still working on ways to start rebuilding the coral reef population, one sculptor has already started helping coral reefs in an unexpected way- building statues for the coral reefs to grow upon. 

        Jason DeCaires Taylor is a British artist who has been helping restore coral reefs for over a decade. However, his methods are very different compared to other people’s attempts at restoring and bringing relief to coral reefs. Mr. Taylor builds different statues made of a combination of concrete and fiberglass, which is an attractive prospect to sea life. The concrete sculptures serve two purposes- before any coral grows on them, they act as artificial reefs which sea life will live among. However, after a disaster or storm that damaged coral reef, Taylor will take some of the remaining coral from the damaged area and plant them in one of his many statues. Over time, the coral reef grows on top of the statue, eventually covering it.

         Experts predict that the remaining reefs in the world could be gone by 2030, but Jason DeCaires Taylor is doing his part by building his statues. It may not be enough, but the thousands of Taylor’s statues that are rebuilding coral are certainly better than nothing. And they really are a sight to behold, aren’t they?

Sources

“Biography – Underwater Sculpture by Jason DeCaires Taylor.” Underwater Sculpture by Jason DeCaires Taylor, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-deCaires-Taylor/150479558321853, https://www.underwatersculpture.com/about/biography/#:~:text=Taylor%20has%20gone%20on%20to,thousands%20of%20visitors%20each%20week. Accessed 25 Jan. 2022.

“Frontiers | Missing the Reef for the Corals: Unexpected Trends Between Coral Reef Condition and the Environment at the Ecosystem Scale | Marine Science.” Frontiers, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.727038/full#. Accessed 25 Jan. 2022.

“This Man Is Saving Coral Reefs by Creating Living Art.” INSH, https://www.facebook.com/INSH/, 16 May 2019, https://insh.world/culture/jason-decaires-taylor-is-saving-coral-reefs-by-creating-living-breathing-art/.

Wetzel, Corryn. “The Planet Has Lost Half of Its Coral Reefs Since 1950 | Science |  Smithsonian Magazine.” Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Sept. 2021, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-planet-has-lost-half-of-coral-reefs-since-1950-180978701/#.