Shading by structure
Functional objective:
Cooling and shading, to relieve acute heat and light stress on coral reef organisms by temporarily reducing their exposure
Delivery method:
Shade-cloth deployments
Deployment scale:
Micro (a few metres)
Subprogram:
Physical shade structures (e.g. cloth) at or near the surface of local reef areas could reduce solar radiation reaching reefs and minimise coral bleaching in small areas e.g. a high-value reef.
These would be suspended via structure floats and/or anchors. They would only need to be used during summer conditions when bleaching conditions are predicted, to reduce solar radiation reaching reefs and minimise coral bleaching.
Deployment of this intervention risks unintended physical damage to coral reefs.
