A newly established land-based coral breeding laboratory on Praslin Island, Seychelles, has recorded its first successful coral spawning event – marking a significant step forward for reef restoration in the western Indian Ocean. 

The facility is the result of a new collaboration between Canon EMEA, Coral Spawning International (CSI), and Nature Seychelles (NS), and forms part of Nature Seychelles’ Assisted Recovery of Corals (ARC) programme.

Operational since November, the laboratory has already produced approximately 800,000 coral embryos from 14 parent colonies of Acropora tenuis cf. macrostoma. Early results indicate that around 65,000 juvenile corals have successfully settled, an outcome that researchers have said highlights the potential to enhance both genetic diversity and thermal resilience in Seychelles reef systems.

Unlike traditional coral gardening approaches, which rely on fragmentation and result in genetically identical colonies, the ARC lab focuses on controlled sexual reproduction. This method allows for the creation of genetically diverse coral offspring – an increasingly important factor as reefs face mounting pressure from climate-driven bleaching events.

Canon’s investment and imaging technology have played a central role in the lab’s early success, enabling researchers to closely observe and document coral reproductive processes during spawning. The data collected is expected to support the development of a genetic bank of resilient coral species and improve understanding of reproductive timing, larval development, and early survival stages.

“Witnessing our first successful spawning event at the lab has been incredibly rewarding,” says Dr. Nirmal Shah, CEO of Nature Seychelles. “This lab, a key addition to our ARC facility thanks to Canon’s vital support and technology, has changed what is possible for coral restoration in the Seychelles.

“Since November 2025, we have seen coral offspring not only survive, but settle, grow, and cross the most fragile thresholds of early life, turning a moment of spawning into a pipeline of living, growing reef builders.”

for the months ahead, the focus will be on moving from proof of concept to “impact at scale”. This will mean increasing production, sharpening the scientific understanding of priority species, and opening to students and partners so restoration becomes a “next-level effort.”

Dr. Jamie Craggs, a marine scientist and co-founder of Coral Spawning International said that Canon’s imaging technology has been pivotal to the project, allowing researchers to observe critical reproductive processes with a clarity that “could only have been dreamt of before.”

“We designed the systems to facilitate predictable spawning, enabling rapid learning and providing unprecedented insight into coral reproductive timing in Seychelles through the data and images collected by the team,” said Dr Craggs. “The initial number of corals produced is hugely encouraging, and this marks just the first of many spawning events over the coming years.”

Key milestones now on the horizon include beginning to outplant juvenile corals grown in the lab and placed directly in the reef, tracking the survival of these genetically diverse corals post-out planting, and expanding local expertise through advanced technical training.

Peter Bragg, Sustainability and Government Affairs Director at Canon EMEA, said: “The fully operational lab and its successful coral spawning events are a clear demonstration of how technology can support scientific progress.

“We are particularly excited by how our imaging equipment is enabling researchers to reveal the intricate, previously unseen processes of coral reproduction, delivering invaluable real-world insights. We look forward to seeing this project evolve and in believe it will continue to foster a sustainable future for these vital marine ecosystems.”

Click here for more from the Oceanographic Newsroom.