Early studies showed it may take up to 80 years for artificial reefs to reach maximal coral coverage, and yet unusually high fish densities can develop quickly on isolated artificial reefs.
The research has raised hopes that this new technology may prove a useful tool in increasing local biodiversity, which could in turn help restore balance in damaged coral ecosystems and aid natural recovery.
With support from an Associate Award, Nadav’s project is aimed at turning artificial reefs from a scientific idea into a practical management tool for reef restoration. Having developed protocols for artificial reef creation, the team is now taking an active role in reef recovery by increasing the area covered by corals.
By transplanting nursery-grown corals to 6 barren artificial reef sites in Jordan and Israel, they will examine how to increase biodiversity locally, accelerating coral and fish recruitment on natural reefs for the benefit of reef recovery. It is hoped that over time the new reefs may also assist by helping to divert human pressures away from natural areas already subject to heavy tourism.
Nadav is particularly eager to involve different sections of the local community in the work, especially children through their schools, to learn and protect their coral reefs. A key project output will also be to establish guidelines for deployment and maintenance of artificial reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba.
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