Samsung aims to protect marine ecosystems using Galaxy smartphones. The company recently shared the first anniversary results of its marine ecosystem restoration project called Coral in Focus. This project uses Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Ocean Mode, a customized camera mode, to restore damaged coral reefs.
Samsung’s coral project helps restore ocean ecosystems
Launched in 2024, Coral in Focus is an initiative that supports local communities to restore coastal ecosystems. For this project, Samsung has teamed with Seatrees, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring marine ecosystems, intending to find new ways for coral reef restoration. The project is currently running in Fiji, Indonesia, and the United States.
As a part of the project, the Korean firm has added Ocean Mode to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Notably, this is an exclusive camera feature available only to participating partners. The Ocean Mode feature lets researchers take clear underwater photos that help scientists make 3D photogrammetry models to monitor coral reefs. This information helps local partner organizations with their on-site coral restoration work.
One of the common issues is the excessive blue tones in underwater photography. The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Ocean Mode helps reduce the excessive blue tones and deliver a more accurate representation of coral colors. On top of that, faster shutter speed and advanced image processing help in reducing motion blur. There’s an interval shooting function that allows thousands of high-resolution coral images to be taken simultaneously, making the entire process faster.
Samsung says these coral restoration efforts have helped create 17 3D coral reef models to study reef health and growth. So far, 11,046 coral fragments have been planted, which have helped restore about 10,705 square meters of reef — about the size of 25 basketball courts.
In 2021, Samsung started working toward a greener future with its “Galaxy for the Planet” vision. Initially, it started with recycled fishing nets in its products, but now it has expanded to helping restore ocean life. Coral reefs are important habitats for marine life. It helps protect the marine environment and supports the carbon cycle.
