Artificial reefs which look close to natural, even before anything is growing on them. Varying the sizes and distances between the reefs would also add to a more natural look. Photo: philstar.com.
Artificial coral reefs, reef balls, biorock etc.
Some artificial reefs
Some photos of artificial coral reefs below:
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Reef ball – a large man made concrete “Igloo” with holes in it. Starting to look like a natural bommie. Photo: Reefball.org.
Reef balls are great, however they are large and very heavy, requiring heavy machinery to place them.
Varying the sizes and distances between the artificial reefs would add to a more natural look. They could also be clustered together, and three reefs together could have a fourth wedged between and on top of them, to create a variety of natural-looking configurations Photo: philstar.com.
Artificial reefs similar to the above could be made with concrete in concave holes on a beach near to where they will be placed. This could be an activity for both children and adults at holiday resorts located near the sea, to expand existing reefs or make artificial reefs in more accessible places.
I think that three “mouse doors” at the base, and one hole at the top would be better. If they are about 70 cm to one metre (one yard or less) in diameter, and about 10 cm (four inches) thick, they could be carefully placed on a tarpaulin, before sliding them down the beach, and once in the water, one or perhaps two strong people could carry them out as deep as they can at extra low tide. The reefs would then be within easy snorkelling distance and depth for tourists.
I think that such an activity could increase tourist numbers and satisfaction for tourists visiting the Caribbean, South-east Asia, Pacific islands, the Red Sea, East Africa, Indian Ocean islands, etc.
Resort owners/operators may also get repeat custom, because some tourists may return to see the progress of the reefs they have made.
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Corals at the Cairns Aquarium (Acropora spp.) Thanks to Izaac Lilley, senior aquarist, for showing me around behind the scenes so I could take this photo.
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No-fines concrete blocks used in road construction. No-fines concrete artificial reefs could be lighter and placed manually. The nooks and crannies should provide a suitable substrate for coral to grow, and provide homes for smaller creatures. Photo: David Clode.
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Close up of no-fines or pervious concrete showing pores between aggregate. Photo: David Clode.
No-fines concrete could be useful for making artificial reefs. The aggregate could possibly be coral rubble, or even construction rubble, however a dome or igloo shaped reef made entirely of no-fines concrete would probably not be very strong and is likely to crack or break. A possible compromise would be to use normal concrete with an outer skin of no fines concrete, because the rough surface with cavities is likely to increase the recruitment of corals, sponges, seaweeds etc, and provide homes for small creatures.
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Two pieces of cement/mortar which I made over 20 years ago using beach sand derived from coral. The mixture worked well, and is still working well after all this time. The material is very similar to the naturally formed “cement rock” on which they are sitting. Photo taken at Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
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Pipes providing shelter/ habitat for fish, crustacea and other animals, and a substrate on which coral, sponges, moluscs, seaweeds, etc. can grow. Photo: Marinegiscenter.dmcr.go.th.org.
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Concrete bricks providing habitat/shelter and substrate (coral nursery in this case). Photo: Nature.org.
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Concrete bricks – holes/tunnels and surfaces on which coral can grow, but not aesthetically pleasing. Photo: Reefresilience.org.
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Artificial reef. Photo: Wikimedia.
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Railway carriages used to form artificial reefs, New York, USA. Photo: nysubway.dnr.sc.gov.
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Coral growing on a metal frame. Photo: savecoralreefs.org.
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Coral frags (fragments) growing at the Cairns Aquarium, similar to growing cuttings from plants. Thanks to Izaac Lilley, senior aquarist, for showing me around behind the scenes. Photo: David Clode.
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Coral frag (fragment) grown at the Cairns Aquarium in Australia. When it gets bigger, it may be used to help restore a damaged reef on the Great Barrier Reef, or in one of the tanks at the Cairns Aquarium. Thanks to Izaac Lilley, senior aquarist, for enabling access to take this photo.
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Natural regeneration of coral on a concrete pylon, exposed to the air during an unusually low tide. Green Island. Photo: David Clode.
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Close up.
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Naturally regenerating coral on a concrete pylon.
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Coral growing on a concrete pylon. Photo: David Clode.
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Coral growing on man-made concrete.
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Soft coral growing on a concrete pylon, exposed during a very low tide.
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Oysters growing on a painted steel pylon at Green Island. Even if you don’t want it, life will even find a foothold on the least desirable surfaces, including the hulls of boats and ships.
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Just a few interesting photos:
Bioluminescent corals at the Cairns Aquarium in Australia. Photo: David Clode.
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Photo taken at the Cairns Aquarium by David Clode. Thank you to Izaac Lilley, senior aquarist, for showing me around behind the scenes so I could take this photo.
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Marine life in the bioluminescent tank at the Cairns Aquarium, Australia. Photo: David Clode.
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Soft coral exposed during a very low tide. It will survive and recover when the tide comes in. Green Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Photo: David Clode.
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Soft coral at very low tide. Approx. 1.5 meters in diameter. Green Island. Photo: David Clode.
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Soft coral close up. Green Island. Photo: David Clode.
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Exposed coral reef at low tide, Green Island. Photo: David Clode.
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A Clown Anemonefish tends to it eggs (below and to the right of its head). Cairns Aquarium. Photo: David Clode.
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A Clownfish peeks out through a curtain of sea anemone tentacles at the Cairns Aquarium. Photo: David Clode.
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Space on the left for text, for example advertising a beach clean up day. Clown Anemonefish (Nemo) at the Cairns Aquarium. Photo: David Clode.
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Macro photo of bioluminescent coral at the Cairns Aquarium. Photo: David Clode.
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Macro photo of bioluminescent coral at the Cairns Aquarium. Photo: David Clode.
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Beach composed of broken coral, Fitzroy Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Photo: David Clode.
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Sea star (starfish) about 30 cm or 12 inches in diameter in sea grass beds, Green Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Photo: David Clode.
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Sea urchin at the Cairns Aquarium. Photo: David Clode.
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Sun coral. Cairns aquarium. Photo: David Clode.
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A Cleaner Wrasse attends to a Harlequin Tuskfish. Cairns Aquarium. Photo: David Clode.
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Coral at the Cairns Aquarium, Photo: David Clode.
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Coral with polyps extruded at the Cairns Aquarium. Photo: David Clode.
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A variety of marine life in the bioluminescent tank at the Cairns Aquarium. Photo: David Clode.
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Flambouyant sea life at the Cairns Aquarium. Photo: David Clode.
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Sea shell, Green Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Photo: David Clode.
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