We’ve talked a lot about deploying artificial reefs – from ships, to concrete balls, to various manmade structures – to stimulate the underwater environment. However, this morning, I found a novel solution that sounds the most promising of all. Naturally, it’s among the simplest, too.
Founded by Dr. Michael Moore in 2001, EcoReefs are mass-produced ceramic modules that mimic branching corals. According to the website, the ceramic is “non-toxic, pH neutral, food-grade stoneware, an eco-safe material ideal for the settlement of corals and other invertebrates.” When packed together densely, the modules create habitat ideal for small herbivorous and juvenile fish, which eat the algae that may otherwise destroy the coral. Whereas natural recovery of corals can take as long as a century, EcoReefs claim they shorten recovery times to as little as 7 to 15 years. Shipped in standard cargo containers and assembled onsite, EcoReefs provide numerous benefits that more “traditional” artificial reef deployment do not, including the ability to attach real coral to them. If you want to see what EcoReefs are all about, check out their (Quicktime) movie, where you can “learn all about EcoReefs in 7 minutes.” EcoReefs: Look Like Snowflakes, Speed Coral Growth
We’ve talked a lot about deploying artificial reefs – from ships, to concrete balls, to various manmade structures – to stimulate the underwater environment. However, this morning, I found a novel solution that sounds the most promising of all. Naturally, it’s among the simplest, too.
Founded by Dr. Michael Moore in 2001, EcoReefs are mass-produced ceramic modules that mimic branching corals. According to the website, the ceramic is “non-toxic, pH neutral, food-grade stoneware, an eco-safe material ideal for the settlement of corals and other invertebrates.” When packed together densely, the modules create habitat ideal for small herbivorous and juvenile fish, which eat the algae that may otherwise destroy the coral. Whereas natural recovery of corals can take as long as a century, EcoReefs claim they shorten recovery times to as little as 7 to 15 years. Shipped in standard cargo containers and assembled onsite, EcoReefs provide numerous benefits that more “traditional” artificial reef deployment do not, including the ability to attach real coral to them. If you want to see what EcoReefs are all about, check out their (Quicktime) movie, where you can “learn all about EcoReefs in 7 minutes.” 
