From concrete to coral: breeze blocks make a splash regenerating reefs

There hasn ’t been much good news about coral recently, but in Grenada, one project is using towers of concrete to encourage marine life and create new reefsThe outboard motor roared into life and the rope snapped tight, flicking sand across the beach. For a fraction of a second, the inertia of half a ton of concrete held sway before the entire construction slid down the runners and into the surf. I fully expected it to sink, leaving a tattered rope to skip across the wave tops, but the team from Grenada ’s Grand Anse Reef Regeneration Project (GARRP) had done this before and all was well.As the boat picked up speed, I was reminded of Douglas Adams ’ line about the Vogon spaceships, that hung in the air in “exactly the same way bricks don’t”. The concrete tower on its plywood pallet was rising from the water, its bulk taken by the water beneath it as it water-skied over the surface, gaining speed and rising higher as the implausible st ructure headed out to sea.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Science Coral Marine life Environment Conservation Source Type: news