Coral restoration aims to assist the recovery of coral species populations and restore reef health through both sexual and asexual reproduction methods. These efforts are crucial as coral reefs serve as vital ecosystems that support a wide range of marine life. The decline of coral populations due to climate change, pollution, and other stressors has led to a push for innovative restoration techniques.

One key approach is the use of coral nurseries, where coral fragments are grown under controlled conditions until they are large enough to be outplanted onto degraded reef areas. Branching corals, which are fast growers, can reproduce asexually through fragmentation, where broken pieces of coral grow into new colonies. For slower-growing stony coral species, a technique known as microfragmentation is used. In this method, corals are fragmented into very small pieces, which accelerates their growth and makes it a valuable approach for restoring species like brain and boulder corals.