Artificial Reef for Basalt Island
Setting up an artificial reef can be a useful strategy to develop new food sources that attract and support large populations of fish. It may also help in the rehabilitation of degraded marine environments and create new spawning and nursery grounds.
Do the fish know the difference? Probably not, judging by the results of recently created artificial reefs (ARs) at Yan Chau Tong, Long Harbour, Hoi Ha Wan and Outer Port Shelter. Over 200 species of fish have been recorded at ARs within marine parks and invertebrates such as barnacles, bivalves, tube worms, sponges, bryozoans and squirts (tunicates) have all been found enjoying their new environment.
In its effort to manage waste in an environmentally friendly way, the joint venture group, Maeda-Hitachi-Yokogawa-Hsin Chong, is working on a plan with the AFCD to submerge some pre-cast concrete segments near Basalt Island. These segments are hollow and provide a large surface area that fish and corals can colonize. This joint venture group, which is building the Stonecutters Bridge over the Rambler Channel, won the Eco-Business 2005 gold award in the Green Construction Contractor category.
Not everyone is in agreement about the need or the usefulness of artificial reefs, and the most cynical ones believe that construction companies are simply finding an easy way to get rid of their waste while at the same time making themselves look good.
Next month, Explore will delve deep into this issue and tell you the whole story.
What are your thoughts on artificial reefs? To see what your neighbours and friends are saying, go to the discussion boards. |
Further Reading
The AFCD Artificial Reef Project has an excellent website which includes background of the project, studies, locations of reefs, maps, photos and even videos. Photo from this site.