Posted on May 11, 2026
Since 1970, approximately 50% of all coral reefs in the world have been lost. Jan De Nul has the ambition to scale up existing techniques to restore these precious ecosystems. To that end, the company now started the construction of a farm in the Maldives, in close collaboration with Coral Vita, a leading expert in coral farming.
Coral reefs are undergoing an alarming decline, with about half of all global reefs lost since the 1970s. The main causes are rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and overfishing. Scientists warn that over 90% of remaining reefs could disappear by 2050. Coral reefs are the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, harbouring up to 25% of all marine species. Millions of people rely on reefs for food security, coastal protection, and biodiversity. This is especially true in the Maldives, where society depends heavily on coral reefs.
Blueprint for large-scale restoration
To counter this evolution, maritime contractor Jan De Nul and expert in land-based coral farming, Coral Vita, have set up a unique project called AquaReef. The objective: to create a blueprint for large-scale restoration of coral reefs, applicable and scalable anywhere in the world.
Over 15,000 corals in 24 months
Jan De Nul has now officially started the construction of a coral reef farm on the island of South Malé Atoll, south of the capital Malé. The coral reef restoration farm will take up about 2,500 m² and consist of ten specialized containers, powered by solar energy.
By autumn this year, Jan De Nul will have finished building the farm. Partner Coral Vita can then start with the coral production process. In a period of 24 months, the farm should be able to grow over 15,000 corals.
This starts with collecting small, healthy fragments from resilient reefs, ensuring no long term harm is done. These are then cut into tiny pieces through micro fragmentation.
