A new method to control the invasive sun corals ( Tubastraea spp.): Underwater compressed‐air blasting
Year: 2026
Type: book-review
Abstract: Accurate and safe management of invasive species, such as sun coral ( Tubastraea spp.), requires robust and improved control methods to overcome existing challenges. Existing physical removal techniques suffer from critical methodological limitations, specifically the high risk of accidental fragment dispersal and subsequent regeneration, which undermines effective long‐term management. This study introduces and validates a novel control protocol: underwater compressed‐air blasting, specifically designed for non‐extractive soft tissue removal. We detail the operational parameters of this method and provide a rigorous testing of its advantages over conventional techniques. Our results demonstrate that air blasting achieves nearly complete soft tissue removal; furthermore, laboratory tests confirmed that the dispersed tissue has negligible regenerative capacity. This lack of regeneration acts as a key safety feature, significantly reducing the risk of accidental spread during management operations. The compressed‐air blasting protocol represents a significant methodological advance for the management of invasive corals. Solution: This method offers a safer, non‐extractive alternative suitable for both sensitive ecological environments and industrial biofouling control (e.g. decommissioning), showing great potential for widespread application in marine ecosystems worldwide.
Institutions: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,330
Award: G6846470487
OpenAlex ID: W7149623587