Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Small enough to fit on a pinhead, coral larvae hold the potential to rebuild entire reef ecosystems – if they can survive the journey.
From the moment they are released during coral spawning, the odds are stacked against them, with as few as one in a million surviving to adulthood.
That’s where the larval seedbox comes in. During last year’s coral spawning season, millions of baby corals reared through Coral IVF were delivered to reefs in the Whitsundays using seedboxes.
Led by CSIRO with support from Southern Cross University, the seedbox acts as a delayed-release delivery system. Rather than dispersing larvae all at once, it gently releases them over a 24 hour period – protecting them from strong ocean currents and predators.
This trial is supported by Qantas through the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and uses technology developed under the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program.
Small enough to fit on a pinhead, coral larvae hold the potential to rebuild entire reef ecosystems – if they can survive the journey.
From the moment they are released during coral spawning, the odds are stacked against them, with as few as one in a million surviving to adulthood.
That’s where the larval seedbox comes in. During last year’s coral spawning season, millions of baby corals reared through Coral IVF were delivered to reefs in the Whitsundays using seedboxes.
Led by CSIRO with support from Southern Cross University, the seedbox acts as a delayed-release delivery system. Rather than dispersing larvae all at once, it gently releases them over a 24 hour period – protecting them from strong ocean currents and predators.
This trial is supported by Qantas through the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and uses technology developed under the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program.
