Researchers unveil new AI-driven system set to transform coral reef restoration

UK researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind bespoke AI system designed to assess coral health and detect early stress, helping to prevent restoration projects from failing.

Led by PhD research student at the University of Derby, Nicole Yeomans, and marine scientist Professor Michael Sweet at the University of Derby, the system, named BlueBiome, is reimagining coral reef care by applying the same principles of preventive, precision health commonly used in human gut health.

The innovative approach is unique as it combines AI image analysis, microbiome genetics, and targeted probiotics into a single, feedback-driven coral health system.

As an estimated 70% of reef restoration projects fail, often because stress and disease are detected too late for effective intervention. This research addresses that by identifying early warning signs and providing more precise intervention to create healthier, more resilient corals.

Nicole Yeomans, lead researcher and co-founder of BlueBiome, said:

“Most coral restoration projects fail because we are intervening too late. By the time bleaching or disease is visible, the coral is already at a major risk. Our research aims to put a stop to this by spotting stress early and intervening before damage becomes irreversible.”

The University of Derby is globally renowned for its innovation in coral reef care and coral spawning. It has developed sunscreens, devised innovative ways to engender coral spawning in the lab, and its students go around the world to repopulate coral reefs.

At the core of BlueBiome is a bespoke AI system trained to ‘see’ coral stress like a marine biologist, using data developed as part of Yeomans’ PhD. The platform can then flag early signs of stress, including bleaching, tissue necrosis, lesions, and pigmentation changes, at a scale and speed impossible to achieve manually in the field.

The AI analysis is then combined with microbiome genetic monitoring, where coral samples are analysed over time to assess microbial health, similar to gut health testing in humans. This integrated insight helps identify when intervention may be beneficial, including the use of targeted coral probiotics to support microbial balance.

Professor Michael Sweet, Professor of Molecular Ecology at the University of Derby, said:

“What makes this research particularly exciting is how it has been integrated. AI image analysis, microbiome diagnostics and probiotic treatments each have benefits on their own, but by combining them into a single feedback-driven system, we get a far more accurate picture of coral health, which informs what actions we should take.

“To our knowledge, this is a completely new approach with real potential to improve reef restoration success globally.”

The research is currently being conducted with public aquariums and hobbyists in controlled environments with the long-term aim of using the platform on a global scale to help improve success rates and protect reefs under increasing climate pressure.

Yeomans’ connection to the University of Derby spans more than a decade, beginning in 2013 when she joined as an undergraduate in Zoology under Professor Sweet. Hands on experience in the University’s Aquatic Research Facility was pivotal in shaping her passion for marine science and coral health.

After graduating, Yeoman went on to build a career across marine policy, nature-positive infrastructure, and the scaling of commercial divisions at a leading nature technology company and has shared her insights on the global stage at a United Nations conference. Now, Yeomans and Professor Sweet are working together again to revolutionise coral reef restoration.

She said:

“By treating corals as living systems that need proactive care, we hope to dramatically improve restoration outcomes and give reefs a real chance to survive and thrive in the future.”

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