Why in news?
In August 2025 the Philippines established a regional cryobank to preserve coral larvae. It is the first such facility in South‑East Asia, part of a network across the Coral Triangle — the world’s most biodiverse marine region. The cryobank aims to safeguard coral genetic diversity against climate change and other threats.
What is a coral cryobank?
A cryobank stores living tissues at very low temperatures, often using liquid nitrogen. In the case of corals, scientists collect larvae during spawning events and rapidly cool them with cryoprotectants to prevent ice formation. At −196 °C the metabolic processes halt, allowing the larvae to remain viable for decades. When needed, the larvae are thawed and nurtured to grow new coral colonies.
Key features of the Philippine cryobank
- Regional cooperation: Research institutions from the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand collaborate to collect and preserve coral larvae.
- Technology innovation: Vitrification techniques and laser‑assisted warming devices ensure high survival rates during freezing and thawing.
- Capacity building: Training programmes equip local scientists and students with cryopreservation skills, laying a foundation for future reef restoration.
- Conservation impact: Preserved larvae can be used to rehabilitate damaged reefs and maintain genetic diversity, helping ecosystems recover from bleaching and storms.