Bioplastic straws an unlikely savior for coral

In Florida, researchers have developed a novel solution to keeping young, vulnerable  coral from being eaten by predatory fish: protective cages made from bioplastic straws. Dubbed Coral Fort, the solution has boosted the survival rate of transplanted coral by a whopping 90%, allowing for the mature, established coral to support ocean life amid widespread die-offs due to climate change.

The solution is definitely thinking outside of the box, considering conventional plastic straws have been among the most visible villains of the plastics waste crisis currently plaguing oceans.

The polyhydroxyalkanoate bioplastic straws are made by phade® by WinCup, Inc. and help solve a costly problem. Fast Company reports that transplanted coral costs about $100 per piece, and less than 40% survive predation and reach adulthood.

“Parrot fish on the reef really, really enjoy biting a newly transplanted coral,” marine researcher Kyle Pisano told the news outlet. They treat it “kind of like popcorn” but lose interest as the coral matures, he added.

Though phade told Pisano and colleagues the company could make any shape the scientists needed to build the cages, boba straws “straight out of the box” worked perfectly. Having cages that biodegrade also saves the cost and labor of removing nonbiodegradable fortifications once the coral matures.