Project Tracker

Project status overview

The DITH MENA sponsored reefs and nursery tables were sunk and installed on 15th January 2022 and have settled and acclimatized well. 

The sinking event was televised on Expo 2020 TV and it can be viewed here, the feature starts at 56 minutes. 

The status of each structure is shown below, together with a summary of the coral planting on the nursery tables. We have reserved the remaining 100 fragments for spring planting in warmer and clearer waters, which will accelerate their growth. 

We expect to be able to transplant some larger corals onto the artificial reef structures in the second quarter of 2022 as well as starting environmental monitoring of the presence of indicator species on the reefs. 

Project Metrics

Installed

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Large 8 meter long “OctoReef” Artificial Reef, designed by Poppy from class G5 at Clarion School. This probably one our most striking pieces and is very impressive under water.

At end-March 2022, the reef is fully colonized with barnacles and some sponge, and will be ready for the Spring 2022 transplanting of coral from the nursery tables. 

At the end of the third quarter 2022, the Turtle has been planted  with ten larger coral colonies that are naturally binding to the metal reef frame. The corals are healthy and doing well.

Installed

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Medium 4 meter long “Coral Reef Ray” Artificial Reef, designed by Talis Theo, Year 7 at Dubai English Speaking College

At end-March 2022, the reef is fully colonized with barnacles and some sponge, and will be ready for the  Spring 2022 transplanting of coral from the nursery tables. 

At the end of the third quarter 2022, the Coral Reef Ray has been planted  with six larger coral colonies that are naturally binding to the metal reef frame. The corals are healthy and doing well.

Installed

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Small 2 meter long Tribulus Artificial Reef, designed by a student at a Dubai School. 

At end-March 2022, the reef is fully colonized with barnacles and some sponge, and will be ready for the Spring 2022 transplanting of coral from the nursery tables. 

At the end of the third quarter 2022, the Tribulus has been planted  with four larger coral colonies that are naturally binding to the metal reef frame. The corals are healthy and doing well.

Installed

0%

Small 2 meter long Turtle Artificial Reef, designed by Lewis Van Buchem, Year 8 in Dubai English Speaking College.

At end-March 2022, the reef is fully colonized with barnacles and some sponge, and will be ready for the Spring 2022 transplanting of coral from the nursery tables. 

At the end of the third quarter 2022, the Turtle has been planted  with four larger coral colonies that are naturally binding to the metal reef frame. The corals are healthy and doing well.

Installed

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3 Coral Nursery Tables 

Planted

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At end of March 2022, the 3 Coral Nursery Tables have been planted with 200 coral fragments that were recovered naturally from the seafloor in the Dibba Rock Marine Protected Area. The total capacity is 486 coral fragments across the 3 tables (162 fragments per table) and the remaining 100 fragments will be planted in the warmer Spring waters to promote faster growth.

By the end of October the three tables were fully planted with fragments and have started to produce fragments that are large enough to transplant onto the artificial reefs. 

Environmental Monitoring

In the third quarter report, we include a list of observed species on the site that was generated from our environmental monitoring data. 

Project REEFrame Report

First Quarter Update 2022

Click here to read our summary of the first three months of progress on the artificial reef in 2022.

Project REEFrame Report

Second Quarter Update 2022

Click here to read our summary of the second three months of progress on the artificial reef in 2022.

Project REEFrame Report

Third Quarter Update 2022

Click here to read our summary of the third three months of progress on the artificial reef in 2022.

The fourth quarter report includes the coral counts and annual growth data.

Project REEFrame Report

Fourth Quarter Update 2022

Click here to read our summary of the fourth three months of progress on the artificial reef in 2022.

The gallery below shows a selection of images of the DITH MENA reefs and nursery tables that were captured during the third quarter of 2022. The reefs have colonized beautifully and are inhabited by a broad range of marine life.