Short Summary
www.fishreef.org
The bottom line, is the very best thing we can do to enhance and restore our marine ecosystem is to build well designed fish reefs. Any envrionmental project in the ocean must have the support of the fishermen and environmental groups in order to work. The Fish Reef Project has broad based support.
Many natural reefs have been impacted from human use. By creating new ones, we can revive many areas of the seafloor that are currently unhealthy.
The Reefs will convert empty mud seafloor into thriving kelp and coral ecosystems. They will work by allowing a fraction more plankton to find hard bottom to settle on, and then grow into greater plants and animals.
The Fish Reef Project will create a series of five acre reefs in California and later in Hawaii. Each reef will quicly grow kelp and coral. The reefs are made from igloo shaped cement reef balls and they provide ample feeding and breeding ground for fish, lobster, abalone, sea birds and marine mammals. The reefs unite the ocean community, they cost no tax payer dollars to maintain or enforce. We will place them on muddy seafloor that has likely already been compromised by human use over the years. The Fish Reef Project is cutting edge and the only operation of its kind in California and Hawaii.
Other benefits:
-help protect natural reefs
-restore and enhance fish stocks
-protect local and sustainable fisheries
-provide study ops
-create bridge between enviro and fishing community
-sequester Co2 from the atmosphere
-reduce local ocean acids levels
-help clean the water
-help ocean life thrive
What We Need & What You Get
The next steps includes working towards creating a smaller scale pilot project and to continue with permitting for our first five acre master project off Santa Barbara.
The pilot project will consist of about 40 reef balls placed near an outfall pipeline. We want test to see if the growth on the reef balls can reduce runoff pollution. We will also be able to further guage how quickly new marine life colonizes the reef balls.
You get a healthier ocean!
The Impact
There will be nine billion humans on the earth soon- we must find innovative ways to help the ocean be stronger and by using its own mechanisms to do so- reefs are one way off-setting human impact while helping ocean life thrive. The reefs will leave a long term positive life giving legacy for all who help to support them.
The Fish Reef Project has already placed two reef balls off Santa Barbara. We were able to see they kelp grow in just four month and lots of fish came to make the reef balls thier new homes. We have managed to a create strong, highly qualified working group and coalition of experts to carry us through the creation of the first five acre reef.
Other Ways You Can Help
Send people to www.fishreef.org to donate and learn more- use indiegogo share tools