Description

Since coral cannot grow on the sandy bottom that is typical to most of the UAE coastline, the introduction of a hard substrate is required to build new coral reefs.

Project REEFrame Artificial Reefs are metal structures that are the permanent home for larger coral colonies; once the rescued coral fragments have grown to about 10 to15cm on our Nursery Tables, they are transplanted onto Artificial Reefs where they can reach sizes of 1 to 1.5m over time.

The structures are sculptures made from steel which can be designed with the sponsor to suit their aesthetic preference. Project REEFrame is already home to a variety of Artificial Reefs, including turtles, rays, whale sharks, octopuses, and other marine life shapes, as well as structures incorporating corporate logos. A design session is included, to help sponsors design structures that will be optimal for coral growth and robust over time in the marine environment.

Eventually, after a number of years, the weight of the growing coral combined with the degradation of the steel will cause the structures to collapse. This is actually part of the process – the coral will have grown to a size where it can survive on the sandy bottom and will form a natural reef, thus repopulating the sea floor and replacing the reefs from the past that are now buried under the sand.

The Medium Artificial Reef – Dome Shape dimensions are approximately: 3m diameter x 1.5m high, and will accomodate 5 to 6 coral colonies with a total potential coral surface of 5m² to 6m² at full term.