The Environmental and Scientific Integrity @ The Marine Foundation

We all rely on the oceans health for food and recreation.

Coastal communities rely on their marine resources and we all rely on the oceans health for food and recreation. The oceans have seemingly provided us with an unlimited supplies and endless dumping grounds for our waste, but the stress is showing. We work with local NGO’s and Eco trusts who are implementing and managing areas of marine protection and management. Mainly areas close to populated coastal communities that have already been severely damaged and are in need of rehabilitation or areas that are in decline due to high impact human use including tourism development. Fishing methods and quotas, human interaction and exploitation of natural resources are regulated, managed and zoned to allow regeneration of these eco-systems and to protect species and habitats. They can serve as a basis for ecotourism and other livelihoods for local communities. MPAs work to protect functioning ecosystems, bringing benefits both inside and beyond their boundaries to countries, regions, businesses, and by providing refuge for exploited fish stocks, these areas will benefit commercial fisheries as localised fish stocks recuperate they can replenish surrounding fishing grounds with eggs, larvae, and adult fish.

In many countries the coastal communities depend heavily on these seas resources and it is our aim with the Living Coral Art Project to generate an alternative income by the creation of a new attraction that is also rehabilitating the habitat and supporting the marine management process.

A natural coral reef – is a natural marine eco-system composed of the skeletons of living coral together with minerals and organic matter. The coral structures provide hiding, protection and breeding locations for fish and animal life and a surface for life to attach and protection in the dynamic waters of our seas.

A reef – a ridge of coral or rock found in a body of water, with the top just below or above the surface, these act as a natural defense for shorelines against erosion An Artificial reef - is created by man, from a variety of materials to serve the same purpose as a natural reef and they have been used for generations to create fish breeding habitat,.

The problem with damaged coral reef is that the dead coral forms large areas of coral rubble which does not provide stable substrate for the corals to find a permanent home on. so even if there is young coral to replenish the reef they cannot mature. So a sculpture made of stone will serve this purpose, If also designed with holes and crevices to provide fish and other creature hiding homes who each have a size preference we can design the artwork to welcome different species.

Bio-rock® is our first art / marine science collaboration and it is an innovative artificial reef technology that uses an electrical charge to enhance the growth and survival of coral as well as creating diverse fish habitat.

There are several ideas for coral transplanting and by working closely with experts we ensure the best outcome.

Coral gardening is now being implemented across the globe to preserve these valuable marine eco systems, it is a relatively new area of science and it is important during this time of crisis for the science and environmental community to gather data of working techniques. By working closely with marine and environmental scientist, artificial reef technology and ideas and implementation of coral gardening we are funding opportunities and helping to expand this area of knowledge and support successful methods.