Reef buds or artificial reefs are placed some 50 meters from the shoreline of All Hands Beach in Subic Bay to revive and augment marine ecosystems severely damaged by unregulated human activities. Photo courtesy of All Hands Beach
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT –– A local beach resort known for its environmental conservation efforts has started a coral augmentation project as part of its protection of the marine ecosystem around it.
The All Hands Beach Resort has again partnered with the environmental conservation organization Sangkalikasan to employ the reef buds technology to create artificial coral reefs.
On March 28, the beach resort and Sangkalikasan dropped 58 organic reef buds some 50 meters from the beach area.
The artificial coral reefs will serve as fish sanctuaries. They are expected to foster the growth of other marine species.
Reef buds is a technology of artificial reef construction invented by Austrian geoscientists, the late Dr. Harald Kremnitz and Filipino Benjamin Tayag Jr.
It was one of the 60 grant awardees of the World Bank on the theme ” Development with Equity” in 2006.
“Reef buds are used to effectively revive near-shore marine ecosystems that had been damaged by unregulated human activities,” said a statement of the All Hands Beach Resort.
The project was supported by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
“Fish can eat, find shelter, breed and reproduce and grow,” Sangkalikasan said.
According to the group, reef buds are composed of environment-friendly natural organic and inorganic materials, such as shredded coconut husk, rice stalks, volcanic rock, activated carbon, sand, and cement.
These form rough hollow pyramid structures and are placed under the sea.
Sangkalikasan and All Hands Beach have been augmenting the coral reefs in Subic Bay for several years now.
Reef buds or artificial reefs are placed some 50 meters from the shoreline of All Hands Beach in Subic Bay to revive and augment marine ecosystems severely damaged by unregulated human activities. Photo courtesy of All Hands Beach