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WHY WAS BELIZE BARRIER REEF PLACED ON DANGER LIST
In 2009, Belize’s Barrier Reef System was listed as endangered by UNESCO. 9 years later, oil drilling limits and protected fishing zones helped reverse its declineBelize's Barrier Reef Reserve System was removed from UNESCO's danger list in 2018. This followed the country's implementation of crucial c...
In 2011, New South Wales sank ex-HMAS Adelaide off the Central Coast; five years of surveys identified 62 fish species from 31 families around the wreck before storm damage led to its closure in July 2024In mid-2024, severe storms wreaked havoc on the ex-HMAS Adelaide artificial reef, leading to significant structural concerns. The superstru...
1978, Massachusetts developed a 127-acre reef of 2,500 concrete-filled tire bundles in Nantucket Sound; a 2019 survey found fish arrived in about 33 seconds at reefs versus nearly eight minutes over bare sandNearly fifty years ago, Massachusetts introduced tire reefs to enhance marine ecosystems. Recent research indicates that these structures n...
New Jersey sank 397 obsolete army tanks and armored vehicles from 1994 to 1997 in 40 to 140 feet of water; a five-year study found 432,000 animals of 145 species per square metre of reef habitatIn a remarkable initiative, obsolete US Army tanks were intentionally submerged off the New Jersey coast, creating vibrant artificial reefs...
A teenager’s 4-H project helped spark a coral restoration revolution in the Florida Keys—how Ken Nedimyer turned broken coral fragments into thousands of new reef coloniesA simple father-daughter 4-H project in the Florida Keys grew into a groundbreaking coral restoration effort. Ken Nedimyer’s experiment wit...
In 1997, Florida sank 8 A-7 Corsairs and a T-2 trainer off Jacksonville; 5 years later, all remained in place and were regularly used by divers and fishermenIn 1997, retired A-7 Corsair aircraft were deliberately sunk off the Florida coast, serving a dual purpose as artificial reefs. This innova...
In the mid-late 1970s, Florida sank an F-101, F-102, T-33 and Sikorsky off Bay County; the aircraft served as fishing and diving reefs for more than 10 yearsIn the 1970s, Florida made a bold choice by sinking military jets and helicopters into the Gulf of Mexico, creating makeshift fishing and d...
In 1995, Hurricane Luis damaged Maiden Island Reef in the Caribbean, already hit by development. Years later, Reef Balls supported 5,000 new coral colonies representing 30 speciesReef Balls are designed artificial reef modules mimicking natural structures. These concrete units provide habitat and shelter for marine s...
In 1972, Florida dumped 2 million tires into the ocean to build the world’s largest man-made reef; decades later, the military had to remove themIn 1972, old tires were submerged as an artificial reef, but they didn't succeed in fostering marine life and instead became a daunting env...
In 1995, Florida sank three F-106 jets off Bay County; later surveys found reef fish and greater amberjack around the aircraftIn an innovative effort to bolster marine life, retired fighter jets are strategically submerged off the coast of Florida, transforming int...
In 2017, Jordan sank a 100-foot C-130 Hercules cargo plane off Aqaba; marine life has been colonizing it ever sinceA retired Jordanian C-130 Hercules plane was intentionally sunk offshore Aqaba. This created an artificial reef to foster marine life and c...
In 2000, NOAA planted 500 square meters of cordgrass and added oyster shell on Pivers Island; the living shoreline later weathered Hurricanes Irene and FlorenceIn North Carolina, a living shoreline project has proven effective in combating significant erosion, relying on natural materials like mars...
In 1997, US Army began Maryland's oyster restoration partnership in Chesapeake Bay. 24 years later, about 600 acres of new oyster bars had been created across MarylandMaryland partnership formally began with the project cooperation agreement executed in February 1997. Restoration sites eventually included...
This city in Florida lost nearly 80% of its Oyster reefs; now a restoration project is rebuilding what disappeared. Here's howNaples Bay is taking an innovative step by restoring its oyster reefs, which will enhance natural shoreline defenses. These vital reefs pla...
In 2019, this California sea creature was heading toward extinction; scientists raised babies in captivity and returned them to the oceanWhite abalone faced extinction due to overfishing and sparse populations. Scientists initiated a captive-breeding program, producing millio...
Science says sand isn’t always made from rocks: Some beaches are built from the remains of living thingsThe next time you stroll along a white tropical beach, remember that the sand beneath your feet may have a far more complex origin than ero...
In 2000, San Diego sank the 366-foot HMCS Yukon off Mission Beach; from 2015 to 2020, nine divers recorded 237 observations across 58 marine speciesThe HMCS Yukon, a Canadian warship, was intentionally sunk near Mission Beach to foster a new artificial reef. Initial research from 2004 i...
In 1997, HMCS Saskatchewan was sunk off Nanaimo; 448 days later divers recorded 46 taxa, including 9 molluscs and 7 echinodermsIn British Columbia, artificial reefs are transforming the marine landscape, demonstrating swift colonization by diverse marine species wit...
In 2009, Jacksonville sank the former Coast Guard tender Spike in 100 feet of water; one year later, a REEF diver counted 16 fish species, up from just 6An ex-Coast Guard ship now stands as an artificial reef, drawing the attention of vibrant marine life. At first, the submerged metal hull w...
Louisiana used 13 million pounds of discarded oyster shells to build 8,000 feet of living shoreline; studies found oyster reefs can reduce wave heights under some conditionsIn Louisiana, discarded oyster shells are being creatively transformed into living shorelines to combat coastal erosion and rising sea leve...