Artificial Reefs /Real Concerns

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Long term damage, short term benefit: reefs break down under stress

A recent report commissioned by opponents of the Avoca artificial reef project highlights the problems with using wrecks as reefs: they break apart. A recent artificial reef project in New Zealand had to issue warnings to divers due to the helicopter hanger of the boat becoming detached from the rest of the boat.

Breakup of three ships within 6 months to one year resulted in closure, temporary
closure of the reefing sites to diving or warnings of significantly increased diving
hazards. (Appendices C, D. E)

Reef opponents question BC Government acceptance of warship

News that the Province of British Columbia had accepted a decommissioned warship as a gift and planned to continue controversial plans to sink it as an artificial reef in Howe Sound surprised opponents of the project who pointed out that the plan has been rejected by other government agencies.

Andrew Strang, of the Save Halkett Bay Campaign, said his group is shocked by the news, because last year the B.C. parks branch rejected the proposal, stating in a Nov. 4, 2010, letter to ARSBC that the ship could not be sunk without changes to the park master plan, which would require public consultation.

Lost ocean cargo may create 'stepping stones' for invasive species

A study looks at the effects that lost shipping containers are having on the marine environment. These lost items create artificial reefs which may provide habitat for eco-system altering invaders.

"What concerns me is that we might be changing this ecology before we even understand it."

HMAS Adelaide scuttle plan gets mixed reaction

The scuttling of a warship in New South Wales is scheduled to go ahead as planned, despite continued opposition from the No Ship Action group. Michelle Meares from the No Ship Action Group says that a similar ship sunk for an artiificial reef has run into numerous problems:

" debris is washing up on the shore, the helicopter hanger has detached from the vessel and it has basically turned into a giant battery under the water."

Monday, January 3, 2011

The costs of dumping

The BAN report, "Jobs and Dollars Overboard: The Economic Case against Dumping U.S. Naval Vessels at Sea," details economic advantages of dismantling obsolete vessels for recycling, including jobs, the avoidance of externalized costs of pollution, damage to the environment and climate, as well as the conservation of metals resources.

Artificial reefs evolving?

"Artificial reefs have evolved from previously just a mentality of dumping any sort of surplus material, be it boats or even tyres, in the marine environment to create extra habitat,"

Next spring’s sinking of the USS Arthur W. Radford will pollute the ocean with toxic waste, cost Americans jobs and hurt marine life by attracting fish to one area where they will be over-harvested, according to a report by the Basel Action Network, a national nonprofit group that focuses on environmental and trade issues.