Eco and Ethics

If you are into the sea or vast oceans and its biosphere, then this is an instruction for you on how to hack nature. I will try and describe what an artificial reef is and then I am going to try and make a design pattern that you can use if you want to build your own local reef. You can copy the instructions and re-post them or improve them. If you were to improve this design pattern then let me know and I can post the better version. Kopimi!

Artificial Reefs

“For a structure to be given the true title “Artificial Reef” it must conform to the four following requirements:
1. Stability
2. Durability
3. Compatibility
4. Function”

Natural reefs evolve over long periods of time and are very fragile and sensitive when it comes to toxic waste, biosphere ruptures as well as other threats towards the seaside related ecology. Artificial reefs are normally constructed by man and are usually different big or small structures of good sturdy materials. Even shipwrecks can be used in order to promote marine wildlife, however, if you don’t have access to a big ship, there are other ways to promote marine wildlife in your local lake, sea or ocean.

Artificial reefs should be constructed at depths and areas where there is little or none reef presence. Even though you could expand an already existing natural reef, this would be a bit counter productive since the natural reefs can be hurt when introducing the artificial assemblages. So it’s good to scout a given space that you want to hack.

There are a lot of different methods on how to build a reef depending on budget, gear, people who are helping you as well as location. You can sink already existing objects etc. e.g. ships (already mentioned above) and oil rigs but also concrete blocks and other smaller objects suitable for building structures and assemblages.

Worth noting here is that the marine wildlife, microorganisms, predators and biomass are also a part of the assemblage constructed, so in order to build a successful reef, you need to be able to spawn an environment acceptable for a diverse population of different species. Object, populations and single individuals uphold the local reef assemblage and is measure on how prosperous and healthy the reef is.

A thing to remember is that if you want to build a reef, you will have to sink objects that have flat surfaces, that stay in place and that aren’t hazardous for the natural environment. Algae, barnacles, corals and oysters really like the hard surfaces and if these attach they contribute to a larger assemblage of nearby fish and marine wildlife. Depending on what you want to do (build a reef for animals or for fish), then you can use other objects such as tires or shapes that create a suitable environment for a smaller marine animals. Some structures, pipes, subway cars etc make really good hideouts for cute fish, thus helping to preserve an already fragile population of smaller individuals in a biosphere.

A historical note to consider here is that reefs have also been used in warfare and biopolitics, in order to hold back enemy vessels as well as setting up advanced traps. But artificial reefs have also been used to grow kelp in Japan, and there are recorded reef building projects from early as the 1830s in the US.

It’s very important to note that you must think about how you are going to setup your reef and which materials you want to use. An artificial reef project that failed miserably was the “Osborne reef” off the coast of Fort Lauderdale in the United States, that since its deployment has been doing more harm than good. You must learn more about the materials you want to use when constructing your reef.

If you want to build advanced and complex reefs for different purposes then you need to find yourself a good design plan. There are examples of reef projects that have spawned reefs that not only make a good environment for fish and algae, but also enhance the waves for surfers. Different environmental hacks are possible if you think about the design and its possible assemblage potentials.

Design Pattern

1 Technical Brief
2 Construction
2.1 Variety
2.2 Clusters
2.3 Crevices
2.4 Height
2.5 Placement
2.6 Site selection
3 Further information

Technical breif

Natural reefs are disappearing, what can we do about it?
How can we mimic nature and its functions when constructing artificial reefs?
How can we protect the marine wildlife from destructive fishing practices?
How can NGO’s work in order to protect the environment and its wildlife?
How can we enhance breeding?
How can we construct hiding places for the fish?
How can we build good modules for algae?
How can we know where to put the artificial reef?
Who can help us with information on how to build a reed?
Can all materials be used?

Problems:

• –How to mimicing nature
• –How to mimicing nature’s functions
• –Using ecological materials
• –Ecological materials = higher cost although higher gain for nature
  

Solutions:

• –Ask you transnational or local NGO’s for more information and help
• –Support your nearest NGO that works with the issues
• –Gather a community around a cluster project
• –Build an artificial reef
• –Prevent illegal and destructive fishing practices
• –Spawn marine wildlife

Building blocks and assemblage materials:

• –Ferro-cement and coir
• –Open pipes
• –Mixing boulders and rings
• –Concrete blocks
• –Shipwrecks
• –Train carriages
• –Oil rigs
• –Reef balls
• –Reef buoys
• –Reef anchor

Ideas on ecological and nature mimicing materials:

• –Coral mimicry
• –Eco-Coral
• Artificialcoral

Low budget instructions:

• –Start a cluster project and create project event in order to spawn interest
• –Gather a community
• –Find a suitable lake or sea
• –Contact an NGO for tips and support
• –Discuss project funding or 0:- budget solutions
• –Conduct dives and locate a suitable area in a lake or sea. If no one has got scuba gear than hire some local diver from a diving school or a group of people who dive in the area
• –Cluster on what the reef should look like and what materials and structures that are going to be used
• –Ask for a grant or permission to create a reef
• –If you do not get permission to do a reef, revise the entire reef project and ask an NGO for more help
• –If the project is considered fruitful by the NGO, then go ahead and carry out the project anyway.
• –If you are given permission, continue to plan the project carefully and hire boats and transport for the materials that are going to be needed

Let us say that you are going to do something with big cement blocks in a lake with a more muddy seabed:

• –Create a structure that will not sink too much into the seabed
• –Create higher structures with a solid base
• –Try using less heavy materials or other types of formations
• –Consider having a clustered formation of objects rather than dispersed if the waters are turbulent

If you are going to construct a reef on a more solid seabed:

• –More concrete!
• –Have a mixture of clustered formations in order to create a more dynamic environment
• –Do not forget about the small nooks, crevices and spaces for the smaller fish, these are vital in order to have artificial protection from the bigger fish in the environment

Big budget instructions:

• –Try and get an NGO involved
• –Plan your budget
• –Hire bigger ships and consider using larger objects that are used to structure the assemblage
• –Hire people as well as creating a cluster project
• –Think long term when doing a project and do follow up projects and excursions to the sites and document how the artificial reefs are doing
• –Expand the reef projects into projects that concerns the lakes’ entire environment and overall health
• –Construct reefs that prevent fishing boats from fishing in restricted areas
• –Conduct research about artificial reefs and inform the public
• –Spawn cluster projects that want to help their local lakes and sites
• –Introduce new fish into the sea or lake that will adapt to the environment and not threaten the fish or eco system that already dwells at the site

Construction and variety

• –Let the fishing industry know about your plans if you build in non-restricted areas
• –If you utterly dislike the fishing industry then do it anyway, but consider the consequences of such actions
• –If you build a reef in a restricted area where fisheries carry out fishing, then go ahead anyway if governmental actions are not planned
• –The reefs has to be sturdy and the management and monitoring of the reefs should be documented
• –Diversity is vital when building reefs, dense structures are better
• –Dispersed formations will not be fruitful and should be avoided
• –Consider solutions that increase the overall biodiversity
• –Use locally available objects that are non-hazardous for the environment and use your imagination and a variety of different combinations and orientations

Clustering

• –When constructing a reef, build dense structures
• –Orientation is important; consider the torrents and how the water flows in different areas
• –Build lines and shapes that run across the current
• –This creates shelter for fish and is good for how the food flow near the artificial reef
• –Try placing buoys when constructing the line in order to enhance the orientation of the project

Crevices

• –Build holes and crevices which are used as shelter and refuge for organisms
• –Think big and use different variations and solutions; small fish use small crevices and big fish use big crevices
• –Use fabricated modules that has holes, or materials such as pipes and tubes
• –Bricks and flower pots can be used
• –Attach natural or synethetic fibre to the modules; these are used in different ways by fish and organisms
• –Synthetic meshs or fibre can be fruitful for the reproduction and breeding

Height

• –Reefs should be about one third of the water depth; however, this is hard to do when building reefs in lakes or in deeper waters. Ask your NGO for advice in your individual project
• –Think big and tall, but do not forget about the importance of a solid base, as you do not want the entire structure to fall over if placed in waters with strong currents
• –Height actually increases the chance for larger fish to find the reefs; thus increasing biodiversity
• –Build the reef so it is almost like a beacon working to enhance and strengthening the biodiversity
• –Height can be increased by using long objects such as telegraph posts or long pipes
• –Use air filled buoys if more height and to spawn biomass

Placement

• –Placement is the key when building a successful reef
• –Objects that seem to be heavy on land will be able to drift away when in water; try and consider this when constructing your reef
• –A concentrated module of objects and stuff will be very beneficial

Site selection

• –Ask local fishermen for information about reefs and site locations
• –If there is a conflict between activists and local fisherment then try and conducting investigations in other ways
• –Try and gather knowledge about thriving reefs, dead reefs and places that have no reef at all.
• –Either repair a reef or construct a new one

• –If you are working with a low budget, try and construct your own sink rig

Further reading

How to construct a reef anchor:

When anchoring over structure on an artificial reef the possibility of fouling and losing a valuable boat anchor always exists. To prevent this from happening, boaters can construct their own inexpensive but effective anchors for mooring over reef structures by following the instructions below.

1. Bend two 4-foot sections of 3/8″ concrete reinforcing rods double.

2. Slide a 12″ section of l 1/2″ pipe over the bent rods.

3. Complete the anchor by bending the ends of the rod to form a grapple.

Concrete may be packed into the pipe around the rods to add weight if desired. The resulting anchor will hold most boats in position once it snags on a solid structure. A strong pull on the anchor line will straighten the 3/8″ rod and allow the anchor to dislodge easily.
Never tie to artificial reef buoys.

Links

Design Pattern
How to build an artificial reef
An approach to design spatial configuration of artificial reef ecosystem
Feature – Artificial Reefs
Reef Ball Foundation
Marine Artificial Reefs
Eco-Coral
Artificialcoral