One year ago, our joint pilot initiative with Fieldlab Green Economy Westvoorne and TouchWind took flight. Today, we're excited to share images made by recreational divers showcasing our purpose-built reefs one year after being submerged underwater. These pictures illustrate how marine life has taken over around and on our structures.
On the 19th of April, one year after installation, divers from the Rotterdam Divers Association explored our submerged structures at the Fieldlab site. The attached photos, captured by recreational diver Hens van Oeveren, offer proof of the positive impact our structures have on the environment.
"It is lovely to see nature taking over on Coastruction's reefs"
The artificial reefs remain properly attached to the anchors and form a perfect foundation for life. "It is lovely to see nature taking over on Coastruction's reefs, a stark contrast with the cast concrete blocks they are attached to, which remain very barren," Hens said. The group of divers is mapping a route along certain points so that divers swim around the structures. In that way, the artificial reefs will enhance the overall diving experience.
The Advantage of Purpose-Built Reefs
Created by design experts, our structures were tailored to suit Oostvoorne's environment. On our structures, nature is taking over, from lush vegetation to various marine species. Fred Kuipers, advisor for Water and Ecosystems at Waterschap Hollandse Delta, identified barnacles, common goby, Cordylophora caspia, European green crab, Mytilus edulis, and various seaweed species. This diverse ecosystem highlights the clear advantage over cast concrete blocks. The surge in biodiversity is attributed to the intricate design our experts create, impossible to achieve with concrete casting. This, combined with the porosity of our structures, forms the perfect breeding ground for marine life, showcasing the efficacy of our purpose-built reefs.
TouchWind, Fieldlab Green Economy and Coastruction
The installation of these reefs marked the initial step toward creating ecological anchors for TouchWind's floating wind turbines. Together with Fieldlab Green Economy Westvoorne, we were able to pilot these structures. Our ongoing mission remains clear: to increase local biodiversity, enhance environmental quality, and create visually appealing reefs for recreational divers.
The results in Oostvoorne are a confirmation of the power of our purpose-built reefs and also of the resilience of nature. As we look ahead, we remain committed to our mission and together, let's continue to push the boundaries of innovation and work towards a sustainable future for our oceans.
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