June 3, 2026

Growing coralline algae sand

against global climate change 

Thomas J. F. Goreau, PhD

President, Global Coral Reef Alliance

This new Global Coral Reef Alliance video of a presentation by Tom Goreau at the International Coralline Algae Society Conference in June, 2026, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, shows how Biorock limestone coralline algae sand factories can combat climate change: 1) global sea level rise by growing shallow Halimeda sand directly in front of beaches they protect from wave erosion, 2) grow barrier reefs and sand islands on reef crests to protect shorelines against increasing wave energy driven by global warming, 3) grow deep Halimeda sand to fall into the deep sea to neutralize global acidification, 4) create floating reefs over the deep sea to enhance open ocean fisheries and create a genuine sustainable Blue Economy in the Exclusive Economic Zones of Small Island Developing States, and 5) can be applied to cold water Red Coralline Algae.