{
  "id": 12830707,
  "title": "Healthy reef sounds can boost coral and fish recovery efforts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/healthy-reef-sounds-can-boost-coral-and-fish-recovery-efforts",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-08T09:00:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-10-healthy-reef-boost-coral-fish.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Healthy reef sounds may aid coral and fish recovery efforts, according to two new studies led by UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The research, conducted in Hawaii's Kāne ohe Bay, found that underwater acoustic enrichment—playing sounds from healthy reefs—can boost the presence of both fish and coral larvae on artificial reef structures. The studies, which took place over several spawning events in 2023 and 2024, were the first to test the effects of underwater sound on fish and coral larvae simultaneously, alongside other restoration technologies. The team collected sounds from a healthy reef environment and broadcast them from underwater speakers, leading to increased coral larval settlement on structures closest to the speaker. Combining acoustic enrichment with living materials and 3D-printed settlement surfaces further enhanced coral settlement. The findings suggest that underwater sound may signal to larvae that a location is suitable for settlement, and that synthetic chemical cues also attract them to reefs. Combining these technologies with more complex structures could be key to the success of hybrid reefs, which combine engineering and biology to protect shorelines and support reef ecosystems.",
  "summary": "Coral reefs are renowned for their visual beauty, but for the marine life they support, their sounds may be just as enticing. Two new studies led by UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveal how underwater acoustic enrichment—the playback of sounds from healthy reefs—can help spur the recovery of degraded coral reefs and their fish communities.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}