The Reefgeneration Organization
For the Future of Coral Reefs
Why Support the Use of Artificial Reefs?
Many people fear that artificial reefs will just be an excuse to dump garbage such as old buses or cars into the ocean and claim that they are “artificial reefs”. However this will not be allowed if an artificial reef agency will become part of the UN. As part of the UN it will need to approve all artificial reef projects and any violators will face harsh fines of up to $300,000,000. All proceeds from these fines will be used to build more coral reefs. A great option for artificial coral reefs could be a mobile platform that catches fish so that the reef itself works almost as a trap and some fish can be taken from the reef easily without it having to be destroyed. Fisherman will be required to release 30% of their catch to reduce overfishing in a fairly even way determined by experts.
All coral reefs can be equipped with a gps signal and computer, as well as be marked on maps so fisherman can find them, and ships can avoid them if need be. The on board computer will keep track of which boats approach the reef and the fish population around the reef sending data via satellite to the UN. This will prevent destruction of the artificial reefs.
All reefs that we support will not affect current coral reefs. This is because our coral reefs will be in areas where the coral reefs have already been destroyed or do not yet exist. A great benefit of this would be placing coral reefs strategically off shore to prevent devastation from tsunamis in areas such as Japan, California and China.
Currently the coral reefs are being destroyed by fishermen and global warming. We need to prevent this destruction because not only are many species of fish dying but also because 60% of people are reliant on fish as their main source of protein. Many of these fish are taken from coral reefs and it is destructive fishing that causes the death of these coral reefs such as dynamite and cyanide mining of fish. If the reefs continue to be destroyed all the fish that use them as habitats will die and there will no longer be a source of food or a means to a living for many people in these third world or even first world countries reliant on fish.
We can fix this problem by replacing the areas where coral reefs previously were with artificial reefs. These reefs can be 3D printed from cement a for a low cost after an initial cost, or they could be molded. There are options with plastics as well however plastic tends to be more toxic and the FDA will need to approve all materials used in artificial reefs. Perhaps the garbage in the whirlpool of the pacific could be repurposed into an artificial reef.
When placement, maintenance, and materials are regulated, artificial reefs are an extremely viable option to increase coral populations and ecosystems centered on coral.