Taiwanese students are turning discarded oyster shells and coral waste into 3D-printed structures for damaged reefs

Asia-Pacific Business Sun, 20 Sep 2026 06:42:21 GMT Moderate confidence — 73/100

Image AI generatedA group of students in Taiwan has found a way to give discarded shellfish waste a second life beneath the waves.
Their project, named Reefvive, takes oyster shells and coral gravel that would otherwise be thrown away and turns them into 3D-printed bases for growing coral.
According to the James Dyson Award, the structures have already been trialled in open water, with 28 coral fragments attached and a host of marine creatures moving in soon after.

Image AI generatedA group of students in Taiwan has found a way to give discarded shellfish waste a second life beneath the waves.
Their project, named Reefvive, takes oyster shells and coral gravel that would otherwise be thrown away and turns them into 3D-printed bases for growing coral.
According to the James Dyson Award, the structures have already been trialled in open water, with 28 coral fragments attached and a host of marine creatures moving in soon after.

Sources: Times of India