Sharjah 24 – Reuters: Coral larvae are more likely to settle in areas that produce sounds of a healthy reef, according to a new study by researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who hope to save damaged or degraded reefs by luring coral larvae in with a good soundtrack.

As the world faces yet another mass coral bleaching this year, some scientists may have found a way to help degrading reefs, by playing music to the ears of coral larvae.

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, scientists have been testing a novel way of rescuing damaged reefs by broadcasting the sounds of a healthy reef to attract coral larvae to settle in the area.

Biologist Nadege Aoki from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution explains what's in the mix of a healthy reef's noise.

"So this is a recording from the healthy coral reef...

And every once in a while, if you hear a little some pops or grunts or gurgles at the lower frequencies, those are all fish calls."

In a study, Aoki and her colleagues set up similar-looking testing systems at three reefs, but only one broadcast audio recordings of a healthy reef.

"In the study, what we were doing is testing if you play healthy coral reef sound underwater, if that can be used by coral larvae as a cue for settlement."

The results, published on Wednesday, found that coral larvae did appear to be attracted by the audio, settling at a rate of up to seven times in areas close to the broadcasting reef.

Other scientists have explored different ways of using what they call "acoustic enrichment" to help dying reefs, including to draw in fish that help maintain a healthy ecosystem.

These methods could be key to helping rebuild the world's coral population.

Coral reefs can be degraded due to many factors ranging from pollution, damage from fisheries and industry, and climate change, which causes coral bleaching and coral die-off.

Scientists say the world is on the cusp of the fourth mass coral bleaching this year, after months of record-breaking ocean heat.

This could have a very far-reaching impact, considering the contributions of coral reefs.

"They provide habitat for close to a quarter of all marine species. And they support billions of dollars in tourism industries, fisheries. And they provide coastline protection."

Despite growing efforts in restoration, scientists say the world must do better to fight climate change, because coral will die as the ocean gets warmer, no matter how wonderful they can make it sound.