Nora Maung

Image

Nora Maung |

Nora Maung | Upland, United States

Solution

The Coral Symphony Project

One of the critical challenges facing degraded coral reefs is their emission of less attractive acoustic cues, dissuading settlement-stage fishes from making their homes there. To tackle this issue, Nora proposes repurposing Whale Acoustic Deterrent Systems, devices that use underwater speakers to emit sounds of the natural predators or threats of whales. However, instead of deterring whales, she will reuse these acoustic deterrent devices to mimic the sounds of healthy coral reefs to beckon marine creatures toward damaged coral habitats and help restore the reefs. This innovation draws inspiration from a groundbreaking study conducted by the University of Exeter in Australia, which found that acoustically enriched coral-rubble patch reefs exhibited remarkable transformations with enhanced fish community development. Nora’s project would also include immersive webinars on coral reef conservation and the role of acoustic systems; freely accessible online resources featuring informative articles, engaging infographics, and interactive tools; and tailored curriculum materials that focus on marine conservation for educators.

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