The Reef Ball Foundation

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Reef Ball Foundation, Inc.
Founders Todd Barber
Type 501(c)(3)
Founded 1993
Headquarters Athens, Georgia, USA
Focus Ocean ecosystem repair
Website http://www.reefball.org

The Reef Ball Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) publicly supported non-profit organization that functions as an international environmental Non-governmental organization. The foundation uses Reef Ball artificial reef technology, combined with coral propagation, transplant technology, public education and community training to build, restore and protect coral reefs. The foundation has established "Reef Ball reefs" in over 56 countries with ongoing projects in 14 additional countries (giving a total of over 70 countries).

Contents

[edit] History

A cluster of reef balls in Curacao.

The Reef Ball Foundation was started in 1993 by Todd Barber, who founded the Reef Ball Development Group with a goal of helping to preserve and protect coral reefs for the benefit of future generations.[1] An avid SCUBA diver, Barber witnessed his favorite coral reef on Grand Cayman destroyed by Hurricane Gilbert, and wanted to do something to help increase the resiliency of eroding coral reefs. Barber and his father patented the idea of building artificial reef modules with a central inflatable bladder, so that the modules would be buoyant, thus making them easy to deploy by hand or with a small boat, rather than requiring heavy machinery.

Over the next few years, with the help of research colleagues at University of Georgia, Nationwide Artificial Reef Coordinators and the Florida Institute of Technology, Barber and a small number of colleagues and business partners worked to perfect the design. Reef balls can be found in almost every coastal state in the United States, and on every continent including Antarctica.[citation needed] The Foundation has expanded the scope of its projects to include coral rescue, propagation and transplant operations, mitigation projects, mangrove restorations and nursery development. Reef Ball also participates in education and outreach regarding environmental stewardship and coral reefs.

In 2001, The Reef Ball Foundation took control of the Reef Ball Development Group, and now operates all aspects of the business as a non-profit organization.[citation needed] At present, the foundation has deployed over 500,000 reef balls worldwide.

[edit] Mission

This section requires expansion.

The Foundation's mission is to restore the world's ocean ecosystems and to protect natural reef systems.

[edit] Technology & research

Divers prepare to lower a reef ball into position by deflating the central air bladder.

The Reef Ball Foundation manufactures reef balls for open ocean deployment in sizes from 0.3 meters (1 foot) in diameter and 15 kilograms (35 pounds), up to 2.5 meters (8½ feet) and 3500 kilograms (8000 pounds). Reef balls are hollow, and typically have several convex-concave holes of varying sizes to most closely approximate natural coral reef conditions by creating whirlpools. Reef balls are made from pH balanced microsilica concrete, and are treated to create a rough surface texture, in order to promote settling by marine organisms such as corals, algae, coralline algae, and sponges.

Over the last decade, scientific research has been conducted with respect to the ability of artificial reefs to produce or attract biomass[2],[3], and the effectiveness of reef balls in replicating natural habitat (e.g. [4],[5]) and mitigating disasters[6]. The use of reef balls as breakwaters and for beach stabilization has also been extensively studied (e.g. [7],[8] ,[9])

[edit] Projects

The Foundation undertakes an array of projects including artificial reef deployment, estuary restoration, mangrove plantings, oyster reef creation, coral propagation, disaster recovery, erosion control, and education on reef preservation.

Reef balls about to be deployed as part of the PT Newmont mitigation project.

Some notable projects include:

  • In Antigua, undertaking the world's largest coral propagation and planting project using artificial reefs.[citation needed]
  • In Malaysia, using 5,000 reef balls around protected sea turtle nesting islands to deter netting, successfully increasing nesting numbers.
  • In Campeeche, Mexico, using over 4,000 reef balls deployed by local fishing communities to enhance fishery resources.
  • In Tampa Bay, USA, using reef balls beneath docks, in front of sea walls, and as a submerged breakwater to create oyster reefs.
  • In Australia, reef balls have been used to enhance fisheries in NSW

[edit] Designed artificial reefs

The trend in artificial reef development has been toward the construction of designed artificial reefs, built from materials specifically designed to function as reefs. Designed systems (such as reef balls) can be modified to achieve a variety of goals. These include coral reef rehabilitation, fishery enhancement, snorkeling and diving trails, beach erosion protection, surfing enhancement, fish spawning sites, planters for mangrove replanting, enhancement of lobster fisheries, creation of oyster reefs, estuary rehabilitation, and even exotic uses such as deep water Oculina coral replanting. Designed systems can overcome many of the problems associated with "materials of opportunity" such as stability in storms, durability, biological fit, lack of potential pollution problems, availability, and reduction in long term artificial reef costs.

Designed reefs have been developed specifically for coral reef rehabilitation, and can therefore be used in a more specific niche than materials of opportunity. Some examples of specialized adaptations which "designed reefs" can use include: specialized surface textures, coral planting attachment points, specialized pH-neutral surfaces (such as neutralized concrete, ceramics or mineral accretion surfaces), fissures to create currents for corals, and avoidance of materials such as iron (which may cause algae to overgrow coral).[citation needed] Other types of designed systems can create aquaculture opportunities for lobsters, create oyster beds, or be used for a large variety of other specialized needs.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reef_Ball_Foundation"
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