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Bahrain considering clay and concrete reefs to boost marine life: Bahrain’s Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE) has given preliminary support for a proposal to install artificial reefs along the coastline to help boost fish stocks and reduce fishing costs, News of Bahrain reports. The reefs, made from either concrete or clay, would provide breeding grounds for marine life and cut costs for local fishermen by cutting travel distances.
Concrete may be a more efficient choice, but a feasibility study was commissioned to determine the project’s cost-effectiveness and the best material, the council said. Concrete reefs are credited for being more durable and better tested than the new, experimental clay reefs.
Artificial reefs are not new to the region: UAE-based climate tech company Zeroe is experimenting with clay reefs near Umm Khorah island in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region. Partnering with the Hong Kong-based startup Archireef, the company launched Project REEFrame, where around 160 reef clay tiles were placed in the region with the help of divers last May. The project involves creating artificial reefs and transplanting coral fragments to preserve marine ecosystems. Hong Kong-based startup Archireef’s 3D-printed clay tiles are currently being used off the coast of Hong Kong and the UAE, with possible expansion to Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and others.
