Our oceans have seen better days: today they are full of plastic. The microparticles end up in our food and our water.
Their temperatures are rising due to climate change, with serious consequences for coral reefs. Overfishing and often illegal destroys many marine species.
The fight for the environment has just begun. Environmental organizations around the world are desperately trying to reverse this trend. Ocean Cleanup uses a 2km long filter to collect marine litter. Origin Materials aims to create a renewable plastic. A Sea to Save, in collaboration with the Sky broadcaster, develops idea competitions.
This week a new effort was added: an artificial coral reef in Sydney Harbor. The result of a 3 year collaboration between the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the famous Opera House and the Nova Scotia government.
The artificial reef is developed by the Reef Design Lab and consists of eight eight-meter containers. Each contains three hexagonal structures of concrete and steel.
The barrier was installed in the seafront area of the famous Opera House, the characteristic Sydney theater known throughout the world. Not far from there is the Great Barrier Reef: a natural formation the size of Italy or half the size of Texas, and it is in great danger.
In recent years the Great Barrier Reef has "discolored" by almost 89% due to warming waters.
This phenomenon does not necessarily correspond to the death of corals. Temperatures cause the coral to expel the algae that lives among its tissues, bringing its color from characteristic red to white. It is possible to reverse the phenomenon, but it takes up to 10 years. In this long period, marine fauna and the entire food chain of the reef are seriously affected by the phenomenon.
Target
The purpose of Sidney's artificial reef is to shelter marine life, encouraging it to restore its biodiversity.
"It's wonderful, after a few weeks the arranged containers are already attracting the attention of the species we hope to host. Including moray eels and octopuses," He says David Booth, Professor of marine ecology and project leader. “We will continue to monitor the installation to evaluate the outcome and improvement of marine wildlife. We hope to become a model for other cities too."
The extent of the problem
The artificial reef is not a new concept. The debate on their usefulness is heated in many quarters, especially on their actual ability to stimulate the repopulation of marine species.
In fact, a recent study shows an increase of "only" 6.5kg of fish for every 10 square meters of artificial coral reef.
This solution will not solve the problem of sea contamination by itself. Not even their heating (and neither does it claim to do so). Cutting emissions and plastics is crucial.
