Artificial reefs sunk off Fujairah coast to revive threatened marine habitats

Artificial reefs in the shape of marine creatures are set to transform a stretch of barren, sandy seabed off the coast of Fujairah into a blooming coral reef within months.

The environmental project by Freestyle Divers diving centre in the northern emirate challenged schools to design a metal wire template on which new living coral could be grown.

Businesses joined the scheme by sponsoring underwater tracking for each of the 15 structures across 100 square metres, to see how they will grow in the coming years.

The first frames were sunk on Saturday, 300 metres from shore in an area protected from fishing and dredging.

“Coral reefs are the most biodiverse places on the planet, and the oceans provide more than two thirds of the oxygen we breathe,” said James Campbell, a marine conservation manager and diving instructor with Freestyle Divers.

Boat hulls destined for the scrap yard sunk to create more reefs 

In the UAE, Freestyle Divers has developed its own conservation programme to encourage a wider understanding on the need to protect underwater habitats from pollution and degradation.

Every month a new marine conservation internship programme takes place at the diving centre to encourage learning.

Darryl Owen, managing director and founder of Freestyle Diver, said the project will expand over the next 12 months. Some 20 boat hulls that were destined for the scrapyard will be sunk to create more reefs.

“The UAE coast has an abundance of diverse marine life, but as divers we have seen firsthand the result of pollution and human activity,” he said.