Fish oil helps grow coral

 

We are so hungry

Science forges on, making discoveries that I would never have expected. In this case, scientists found that giving Omega-3 to little baby corals, the same substance associated with fish oil, helps the baby corals grow.

Omega-3 Supplements Boost the Survival of Baby Coral

"Researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have discovered that coral larvae fed with tailored lipid supplements, including omega-3-rich oils and essential sterols, are stronger, faster, and more likely to survive and settle onto reefs."

"Dr. [Jennifer] Matthews was recently nominated for NSW Australian of the Year for her pioneering work on protecting reef ecosystems."

“These field trials are helping us understand how nutritional support can be scaled up to real-world restoration,” said Dr Matthews. “It’s a wonderful collaboration between researchers, Traditional Owners and reef practitioners, with everyone working together to give corals a fighting chance.”

While no single solution can halt reef decline, Dr Matthews believes nutritional science could become a vital tool in the broader restoration toolkit.

“As oceans warm, we need every advantage we can give these corals,” she said. “Enhancing their early survival through better nutrition could help tip the balance toward recovery rather than loss.”

Reference: Matthews JL, Bartels N, Kish H, et al. Sterols are key to coral larvae survival, swimming capacity, and thermal tolerance. Communications Biology, 2025, 8(1). doi:10.1038/s42003-025-08965-1

There's one little problem with this: one of the best sources of Omega-3 fish oil is menhaden, an overfished resource that also needs to be conserved.