Divers in the Philippines create nurseries for rescued coral

Source: TODAY

BAUAN (Philippines) -- A group of scuba diving experts and enthusiasts are setting up coral nurseries in a popular dive spot south of the Philippine capital Manila to help in the propagation and recovery of damaged coral.

In the coastal town of Bauan in Batangas province, divers collect coral damaged and dislodged by natural calamities and man-made interference such as plastic waste and dynamite fishing, and salvage living parts before placing them in coral nurseries.

"If we select those that are actually more tolerant to climate change, to higher temperature, that can survive higher temperature, then you can actually propagate more, so next time you are actually like building a reef of the future," said marine scientist Sam Shu Qin, co-founder of non-profit conservationist group Our Singapore Reefs which is taking part in the initiative.