Eco-Coral – Brief introduction.
Eco-Coral
is a patented product of Eco-Coral Corporation a duly registered corporation in
Although
classified as artificial coral it is not intended to replace natural coral, it
is intended to provide solid and pH neutral real estate substrate for repairing
damaged live reefs. Below is an abstract from the patent:
“a plurality of
artificial reef units cast from a specially formulated material consisting of a
pozzolanic binder with pyroclastic sand in which are mixed crystalline
particles of macro vesicular volcanic rock with complex shapes and consisting
of multiple elements fused into an insoluble but porous whole whose vesicles’
replicate the surface structure of real reef material and shapes and are compatible
with existing natural coral reef structures and so treated as to be permanent
and to have a PH equal to that of sea
water and not to release or leach any chemicals or particles.”
We meet
or exceed these requirements:
As defined by the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency in
the 2006 report “Marine and Coastal Environment” part of the Abu Dhabi
Environment Initiative.
“For a structure to be given the true
title “Artificial Reef” it must conform to the four following requirements:-
1. Stability
2. Durability
3. Compatibility
4. Functionality
5. Feasibility
6. Ease of implementation
7. Aesthetics
To become a productive artificial reef, a structure
must also be able to provide similar attributes to that of a natural reef and
this can only be achieved through appropriate design and location selection.
These attributes for example should include the provision of shelter, the
penetration of sunlight, adequate flow of clean water (currents), and provision
of habitat for a diverse biodiversity of animal and plants that can develop
into a self-sustaining ecosystem (containing various food chains and nutrient
pathways).”
•
After
blast fishing, marine accident or other destructive events the reef section is
reduced to coral rubble.
•
The
new larvae and spawn cannot attach as the rubble is unstable and rolls about in
the tidal surge.
•
Much
as in any bomb zone the real estate has been destroyed and needs to be replaced
with compatible real estate so the larvae/eggs in the water column have
somewhere to attach and grow.
This then
is the function of Eco-Coral and Eco-Coral wall system – to repair damaged
reefs by providing stable substrate for colonization by reef creatures.
Eco-Coral
Corporation is affiliated with Ocean Technology Foundation
In the
The development
and confirmation of the success of Eco-Coral has been carefully monitored over
a period of 5 years.
Our base
research area is in the South China Sea off the coast of Zambales,
Colonization
is very rapid with sponge, micro algae and tunicates within 4 to 6 weeks and
hard and soft corals in 5 to 6 months. We emphasize that we do not believe in
transplanting coral fragments – if the substrate is appropriate colonization is
a natural process and the result is the same as in a reef developed on natural
ocean rock.
A few
images taken this month.
In
conclusion a message from our Chief Marine Biologist and Master Diver Bill
McGilton –
Greetings!
Eco-Corals have been successful in reef enhancement and
restoration. We invite you to visit our projects in the
I leave you with these words SURVEY, LOCATION, NURSERY, REAL ESTATE, and ECO-CORALS. If you accept our invitation, these words will not only hold more meaning but will define our philosophy.
Cordially,
William F. McGilton