Coral Reefs are diminishing all around the world. The cumulative threats of overexploitation, land-use changes, pollution, and coastal development, coupled with the effects of global climate change, spell an uncertain future for Southeast Asia’s coral reefs.

Despite widespread recognition that coral reefs are severely threatened, information regarding particular threats to specific reef areas is limited.

Only a small percentage of reefs have ever been studied, and an even smaller number have been monitored over time using consistent methods. In addition, these data are rarely consolidated where information could be widely accessible.

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The World Resources Institute published a study in 1998 that states that ‘over 80% of the reefs in [Southeast Asia] are at risk, and over half (56%) are at high risk. Overfishing, destructive fishing practices, sedimentation, and pollution associated with coastal development are the biggest threats’.
[Source: 1998. Reefs at Risk: A map-based indicator of potential threats to the world’s coral reefs. Dirk Bryant, Lauretta Burke, John McManus, and Mark Spalding.]

Here at Aqualogy, we start this project by running tests to see if this area can support an artificial reef. We hope that by creating new sheltered areas for reefs to grow will promote the continued sustainability of the diversity of marine life we see in our area.

What is an Artificial Reef?

An artificial reef is a man-made, underwater structure, typically built to promote marine life, but may also help control beach erosion.

Many reefs are built by using existing materials in order to create a reef. This can be done by sinking rubble, tires, or construction debris. Other artificial reefs can be purpose built from PVC and/or concrete. Regardless of construction method, artificial reefs are generally designed to provide hard surfaces to which algae and invertebrates, such as barnacles, corals, and oysters can attach. This gradual build-up of marine life in turn provides the basis of an evolving eco-system for many types of aquatic life to inhabit.

We plan to submerge various test materials at varying locations and depths to see which materials perform the best. Over a period of time, we can monitor potential coral growth at each location to determine the best artificial reef scenario.

Video and photo logs will be kept alongside data sheets and monitoring data.

Successful artificial reef programmes can and do make positive contributions. In Komodo in 2004, some table and staghorn corals had reached 60-80 cm in diameter after 4.5 years growth on an ‘artificial’ rock structure. On the nearby untreated rubble fields, no change in coral cover was detected after 6 years.

In Sarawak, Borneo - Malaysia, artificial reef balls have contributed to green turtle conservation efforts at the Talang - Satang National Marine Park, where illegal trawling was decimating populations. The project started 7 years ago to protect the nesting and swimming areas of the turtles, and has helped reduce the number of dead turtles washed up on the islands by 75%.

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Coming Soon - related articles about Artificial Reefs!

If you’re not a diver yet, but you’re interested in marine biology and want to participate in one of our programs, - no problem! Arrive a few days early and you can be certified as a Open Water Diver in just 3-4 days.

If you want to participate in the ReefCheck EcoAction and contribute to their global survey of Reef Health, we also offer Discover ReefCheck and ReefCheck EcoDiver courses, for an introduction to, and certification in, reef monitoring and surveying techniques.