Mapping Connectivity of Coral Reefs in the Gulf of Thailand

ATMEC is mapping coral reef connectivity in the Gulf of Thailand to improve coral restoration efforts. The project will collect data during coral spawning seasons in 2025 and 2026 to create a baseline connectivity map, identifying key sites for coral recruitment. Findings will be tested through the deployment of Coral Sanctuary Units (CSUs) over a two-year monitoring period, informing future reef management strategies under DMCR.

Location:

Thailand

Period:

Jan 2025 - Dec 2027

Status:

Active

Partner:

Aow Thai Marine Ecology Center (ATMEC) is a marine science initiative under the Love Wildlife Foundation, established in 2020. ATMEC conducts marine biodiversity and ecology research to support conservation in collaboration with Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) across the Gulf and Andaman coastline of Thailand.

Challenge

Challenge

Coral reefs in Thailand are declining due to climate change, habitat degradation, and ineffective conservation strategies. While global research emphasizes reef connectivity, local conservation policies remain fragmented, relying on site-specific interventions rather than ecosystem-wide approaches.

ATMEC’s research highlights the role of ocean currents in dispersing coral larvae, challenging the assumption that local reef health alone drives recovery. Without a data-driven understanding of connectivity, restoration efforts risk being misplaced or ineffective.

By collaborating with DMCR, this project will generate scientific evidence to inform policies that integrate ocean currents, genetic diversity, and climate resilience—ensuring a more effective and sustainable approach to coral reef conservation in Thailand.

Challenge
Approach

Approach

Approach

To map coral reef connectivity in the Gulf of Thailand, the project will first establish a baseline model by identifying key coral spawning and recruitment sites. These locations have been selected based on past observations of reliable spawning events and high-quality recruitment data.

Field data collection will take place during coral spawning seasons in February, March, and April of 2025 and 2026. Satellite drifters and flow velocity data loggers will be deployed at these sites to track real-time ocean currents and larval dispersal patterns. Data from the satellite drifters, connected via the Iridium network, will be analyzed against baseline models to refine and validate findings, ensuring a more accurate understanding of coral larvae movement.

After hydrodynamic data is gathered, optimal sites will be selected for the deployment of Coral Sanctuary Units (CSUs)—modular, prefabricated concrete structures designed to enhance coral habitat. These artificial substrates will be placed in locations with the highest potential for natural coral settlement, followed by a two-year monitoring program to assess coral recruitment success and habitat enhancement.

To bridge science with policy, the project will conduct two policy dialogues to present findings and advocate for evidence-based marine conservation strategies. The first, scheduled for late 2025, will focus on preliminary hydrodynamic model results, while the second, at the end of 2026, will showcase the final connectivity map and its implications for coral reef management. By integrating ocean current data, genetic diversity considerations, and climate resilience factors, this initiative aims to inform national marine conservation policies and improve reef restoration efforts in Thailand.

Outcomes

Through this partnership with ATMEC, we hope to enable:

Coral Dispersal Models & Site Identification

  • High-resolution models mapping coral larvae movement across the Gulf of Thailand
  • Identification of key reefs acting as upstream (source) and downstream (dependent) recruitment sites

Baseline Map of Coral Reef Connectivity

  • Integration of hydrodynamics, coral community data, and dispersal models
  • Identification of high-priority reefs for biodiversity conservation and resilience

Testing & Deployment of Coral Sanctuary Units (CSUs)

  • Selection of optimal restoration sites based on connectivity data
  • Deployment of CSUs and a two-year monitoring program to assess recruitment success

Evidence-Based Policy & Management Recommendations

  • Scientific data to inform Thai policymakers and marine stakeholders
  • Advocacy for ecosystem-wide conservation strategies integrating ocean currents, genetic diversity, and climate resilience

Are you a marine researcher, policymaker, or conservationist?

Let’s collaborate to advance coral reef restoration in Thailand. If you’re involved in reef conservation or want to contribute, reach out to join this initiative!