At the Israeli Navy base in Eilat, renovation and cleanup work has begun, including activities in the underwater area. As a result, a new home must be found for the many corals that have grown there over the years.
Removing the coral reefs
(Video: Aquazoom/CITIZEN ISRAEL)
In recent weeks, a joint operation by the Nature and Parks Authority and the Ministry of Defense has commenced. As part of the operation, divers from "Marina Divers Eilat" are carefully detaching the corals from the structures they have grown on and transferring them to a temporary location. In the next phase, a decision will be made regarding the permanent home for the relocated corals. This is a project expected to take several years.
Asaf Habari, Director of the Eilat region at the Nature and Parks Authority, explained that "relocating corals underwater is a complex and important task. The main challenge is ensuring the integrity of the corals. Significant preparations are required for such a mission. Among other things, we conducted training that included guidance on the corals and professional methods for detaching them from the waste they are attached to without causing damage."
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The detachment process involves several stages: diving with authorization to the evacuation point, locating the corals growing on the structures that need to be removed, and then carefully and professionally detaching the corals. "After detachment with a hammer and chisel, there are several options," Habari explained. "One option is transferring them to another location in the sea, another is relocating them to an artificial reef, a third is transferring them to an interim facility for safekeeping, and another option is using them for research purposes." In the meantime, the corals are being transferred to growth platforms outside the military port.
Erez Cohen, Head of the Engineering and Construction Division at the Ministry of Defense, said, "The collaboration in the coral relocation project is an inspiring example of our national responsibility—not only towards the security of the state but also towards environmental preservation. It is a delicate and professional process that ensures the safety of the Navy ships while also protecting the unique coral reef of the Red Sea, which is a global natural asset."
Coral reefs in Eilat are indeed considered a global natural treasure, though on a global scale, they are dying due to rising sea temperatures. That said, in Eilat, they have developed resilience to heat conditions. In fact, researchers are working to uncover the secret of the Eilat corals' resilience, hoping that this knowledge will contribute to the survival of corals worldwide in the coming decades, which are expected to see even higher temperatures.