Top conservation organizations gathered at the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Pingtung for the inaugural Delta International Coral Restoration Symposium. The event put the intersection of technology and marine conservation in the spotlight: 12 leading institutions, including the IUCN and the Mote Marine Laboratory, explored and assessed innovations like AI-assisted coral surveys and large-area imaging to create 3D replicas of coral habitats.
“Since 2023, global marine heatwaves have bleached 84% of coral reefs in 82 countries. Delta is committed to conserving 300 coral species over the next five years,” Shan-Shan Guo, Vice Chairman of Delta Electronics Foundation, said in a statement. “Our symposium promotes technological collaboration to boost biodiversity monitoring and restoration.”
Experts emphasized the power of 3D models for environmental research. “Collecting large-scale coral images and turning them into 3D digital twins allows scientists to study ecological changes over time and plan effective conservation strategies,” explained Dr. Stuart Sandin from UC San Diego. According to Dr. Jason Spadaro of Mote Marine Laboratory, AI can assess coral cover and transplantation suitability, accelerating survey work in complex reef environments.
Delta symposium also became a platform for showcasing practical innovation. For example, heat-resistant corals cultivated using collaborative robot systems maintain 50% photosynthetic efficiency at 37°C. Tanks equipped with precision sensors allow controlled temperature experiments, and 3D imaging monitors growth and stress responses in real time.
“Combining technology with conservation gives us a unique platform for global knowledge exchange,” said Chang-Feng Dai, Chief Consultant of Delta’s coral restoration project. “It’s a step toward smarter, faster, and more scalable coral restoration practices worldwide.”
The symposium program was brimming with presentations from professionals across Australia, Japan, Singapore, and the U.S., and screened the 8K documentary The Coral Gardeners, highlighting how digital tools and robotics are transforming coral restoration.
