An Overview Of Our Solution
Using Scientifically designed and Engineered Modular Artificial Reefs to restore fisheries along heavily impacted areas due to weather, overfishing, massive tourism and improper development, in the Caribbean, Central and South America region
Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosystem
Oceans/Coasts
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: North America
Problem
Describe the problem
WITH MORE THAN 93, 000 SPECIES ALREADY IDENTIFIED, CORAL REEFS HAVE 32 OF THE 34 ANIMAL PHYLAE, COMPARED TO 9 FOUND IN TROPICAL FORESTS. This solution protects biodiversity from fishermen, overexploitation due to tourism and other aquatic activities, initially by providing shelter to diverse marine species, an artificial reef is a habitat in which many species find a home, it is proven that this technology in only five year can generate tons of biomass while protecting many species the loss of natural reefs due to bleaching, acidification and pollution is higher than ever in human history; all this means is that many species of animals are loosing their homes, their breeding grounds and their feeding zones, artificial reefs protect these species allows them to procreate a
Biodiversity Impact
The WAD system proposed is scientifically designed and proven with many cases of success in the Caribbean and around the world (look at videos). They have protected coasts, recovered beaches, created new and attractive habitats for sea creatures and tourists, they are installed following patent Nº US 6,186,702 B1 designed by US Naval Engineers. Annexes. This artificial barrier is conformed by a series of structures which are pyramidal in shape, modular, pre fabricated, hollow with openings, they are made with marine grade concrete with a neutral Ph and a resistance of 5000p.s.i (This concrete mixture is patented and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency) Annexes. With one foot thick walls and a 17ton weigh each we create the most structures for artificial reef construction. ADDITIONAL VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3omLWQddxwg
Solution
WITH MORE THAN 93, 000 SPECIES ALREADY IDENTIFIED, CORAL REEFS HAVE 32 OF THE 34 ANIMAL PHYLAE, COMPARED TO 9 FOUND IN TROPICAL FORESTS. This solution protects biodiversity from fishermen, overexploitation due to tourism and other aquatic activities, initially by providing shelter to diverse marine species, an artificial reef is a habitat in which many species find a home, it is proven that this technology in only five year can generate tons of biomass while protecting many species the loss of natural reefs due to bleaching, acidification and pollution is higher than ever in human history; all this means is that many species of animals are loosing their homes, their breeding grounds and their feeding zones, artificial reefs protect these species allows them to procreate and to grow to mature sizes before moving along to the next reef or off to the open sea. Additionally if well managed, reefs can produce up to 15 tons of fish and other edible creatures per square kilometer every year, the idea of declaring this a natural protected area, automatically manages shelters for fish, and there are very strict rules for tours and guided visits as well as an absolutely no fishing allowed in these areas. This gives peace to fishes and other species from human predators. These protected no fish areas have shown to produce so much life, that it moves out along to other areas of the ocean, creating a benefit to both larger animals and fishermen in the long run all over the world. // THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT IS PLANNED FOR A PILOT PROJECT, WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED by the diverse parties involved. We are already donating 10 WAD for this project 1000 meters in length, and 8 to 10 meters in width. APPROXIMATELY; 8000 M2 It would be great to create many artificial reef patches and barriers along the coastlines of the Mesoamerican Reef System, being a very heavily impacted one due to over exploitation by tourism, cruise industry, pollution, runoffs, dredging, and lack of regulation from authorities in the region, this area is imperative to restore before we loose the non renewable
Replicability
How many years has your solution been applied? 15 years // Have others reproduced your solution elsewhere? Yes // We have already done similar projects in three places around the region with superb results, and many around the world. • Oceanus International, in partnership with Artificial Reefs Inc. 1. The first step is to make a detailed study. 2. The second step is to engineer the proper artificial reef to generate the results we need site - specific design. 3. The third step is to create the proper Environmental Assessment Document and present it to the authorities and get approval from them. 4. The fourth step is to build the Artificial Reef on land. 5. The fifth step is to transport and install it underwater with GPS precision. “This project has a life expectancy of more than 50 yearsâ€. We are capable of doing this project from step one to five; we are fighting everyday to promote projects like this, in the interest of displacing those products, which are harming our coastlines with better scientifically engineered technology. This project is to be declared a natural protected area, there will be no fishing allowed in this area, only diving and snorkeling with capable guided supervision.A fee, of $2USD. Is already being charged per visitor to the natural reef, with more than 1.5 million visitors every year, this reef is heavily impacted, this project will create new areas for dive shops to take tourists and see many fish and other species while leaving the stressed natural reefs to regenerate and repopulate This fee will also serve to patrol, monitor and maintain this new underwater life filled parks.
Human Well Being and Livelihood Impact
This solution impacts the well being of communities and fishermen all over the region where fabricated and installed, during fabrication and installment only local labor is employed, we believe in working with fishermen and local communities, to let them understand what they are doing makes them respect and protect the reef later, it promotes a sense of ownership to them and a legacy for their community. This is also a new attraction for tourism, which can be exploited by these fishermen, reducing the need to fish in abundance and using heavily impacting fishing techniques. FOOD Coral Reefs have supplied communities with food for thousands of years, not only is the ocean food an immense resource of protein, coral reef fisheries are important income sources, if well managed, reefs can produce up to 15 tons of fish and other edible creatures per square kilometer every year. In addition reefs protect coastlines and prevent erosion. They act as natural wave breakers absorbing the impact of hurricanes and storms, reducing impact and damage to the coastline, with more than half of the world population living 60Km from the ocean, coastal erosion is a problem that affects billions of people. ECONOMIC VALUE Coral reefs provide work for millions of people through tourism and fisheries, studies reflect that in average, countries with coral reef economies derive more than half their internal revenue from them, in an estimate coral reefs provide up to $365 Billion Dollars a year. AESTHETICH AND CULTURAL VALUE Coral reefs are one of the most colorful // We have been behind this project for some time. We have spoken to all parties involved and are all on board; including the Hotel Associations President, The property owners, the marine protected areas director, Engineers, and our partners have all agreed this is a viable project to demonstrate results in the most impacted hotspots. This model can be replicated all along coastal regions, giving work to many fishermen and local labor who also benefit from the biodiversity and larger fish they can encounter once the fish grow and leave the protectiveness of the reef behind and take part in a new different one.