[BIG] Idea - How Resort Based Artificial Reefs Save Mangroves

A Blacktip shark hunts in a Mangrove nursery

Let me begin by saying that "artificial reefs" cannot save mangroves - there, I said it.

But "monetized artificial reefs" can save mangroves by creating new and sustainable revenue streams that are used for a wide variety of regional conservation programs.

They can financially support coral transplant programs and foster reef educational centers.

Monetized artificial reefs can create tourism in places where natural reefs are not present or where natural reefs have been devastated by coral bleaching, dynamite fishing, runoff, and tourism over use.

It's a distinction that is often missed in the fast paced world of oceans conservation - money - or the abject lack of it in conservation hampering great projects in the field, like mangrove restoration.

Where Did All The Conservation Money Go?

It's a big question but it comes down to this. There are more channels today accepting limited conservation dollars than ever before. Additionally, the conservation communities reliance on negative fundraising has created a level of exhaustion in the donor community never seen before.

Sometimes bad news is just too much bad news. Compounded by social media bad news becomes a never ending torrent turning would be donors off in the process. We need to rethink the process.

For that to happen the conservation community will have to embrace and get behind sustainable monetization projects that are smart and science based securing the funding needed for long term oceans projects.

500 Million Reasons For Monetized Artificial Reefs

What's actually killing reefs?

It's a stunning statistic.

Globally an estimated 500+ million tourists use resort based reefs and near shore habitats while less than 2% of resorts and hotels around the world have coral reef sustainability outreach/education programs.

Essentially resorts and hotels around the world get to use a natural resource with no direct engagement towards its future health.

Near shore reefs and habitat tend to encompass the five to ten acres in front of the worlds top 5 star properties.

Worse yet, near shore reefs in the Caribbean are vanishing, and this is a global phenomenon. With near shore reef loss goes a $3 billion dollar scuba and snorkel market that is willing to travel great distances to use the last pristine reefs on the planet. The Maldives are a prime example of this migratory tourism trend.

Why Resorts Don't "Do The Right Thing"

It's a question we get asked a lot. Knowing that near shore reefs are becoming extinct, one might expect that resort developers and management companies would, "do the right thing" and set aside the millions of dollars needed to rehabilitate near shore habitats, seagrass beds, and yes, replant mangroves.

What planet are you living on?

Resorts and hotels are a business first and foremost, many of them beholden to investors seeking a year over year return. For the past 50 years resorts and hotels have largely ignored anything past the high tide mark in lieu of water parks and golf courses on land. They routinely spend millions of dollars on resort based landscaping for reasons that are simple - ROI. Investment in the oceans at the present time do not deliver the kind of immediate and street satisfying ROI that a branded water park does. Hard fact, but one that innovation can change.

Changing The Perception

Florida AR data

Artificial reefs work. The data is in, they do everything they promise and more. The problem is packaging. For resort developers to spend money on artificial reefs they will need an ROI, and you just cannot get an ROI on the typical artificial reef design that is in the field today.

Reef cubes, triangles, balls and more do not attract the valuable scuba and snorkel market which in turn delivers enhanced resort ROI's. They are great design for wildlife, but they cannot generate an ROI high enough to justify massive investment at a time where massive investment in near shore resources are needed.

But there is a caveat here, actually several caveats.



Enter "The Study"

At times when you are unsure about a tourism concept or product, look for a research study. Fortunately there are plenty to go around. From Florida to the Maldives and back new research data is pointing towards an exciting trend in scuba and snorkel perceptions about artificial reefs and habitat. Namely, water users will actually pay more for underwater tourism projects that directly support the regions habitat, also they prefer artificial reefs that are "interesting to look at," like airplanes, boats, tanks, and art reefs.

In essence these studies are the key to resort ROI and a reason for resorts and hotels to invest in artificial reefs and near shore habitat as they do with landscaping. We need to change the design and packaging of artificial reefs for resorts so they in turn can make the kind of dollars needed to offset the initial investment in their oceans.

The Art Reef Design, Resort Engagement ROI

Arts and culture reefs are new. They fuse both cultural art concepts and artificial reef concepts to create spaces that are fun to explore, deliver stunning social media ready visuals, and can be fully branded and more importantly - monetized. In places like Cancun, art reefs designed by artist Jason DeCaires Taylor have transformed entire tourism zones from non productive, to thriving, supporting tourism, habitat, and more. Art and culture reefs are the cornerstone to an underwater revolution.

In Dubai a 5 acre site in development will change the way art reefs are designed and packaged forever. With resort based art reefs new revenue streams can be used to assist and even develop other regional habitat projects like coral transplant, habitat reconstruction, and yes, mangrove replanting.

It all comes down to sustainability and money.

Envisioning "habitat tourism"

We're at an interesting crossroads in 2015. On the table are serious oceans conservation issues that are all tied directly into human impact.

Additionally, most of, if not all oceans issues are "out of sight, out of mind."

Getting people to pay attention and even act on behalf of reefs is a tough uphill battle being fought by many wonderful coral NGO's around the planet on a daily basis.

The good news is 500+ million resort guests use reefs each year around the planet. That's 500+ million opportunities to directly engage, educate, and activate.

A subset of this group have indicated they are actually willing to pay more for habitat development projects. It is not a far stretch to suggest this number is actually much higher. All that is needed are smart programs that plug into this massive migration of humanity, programs that focus on resort ROI, habitat, education, and media.

In Summary

Resort based investment in near shore reefs is smart. The next generation of resort house reefs will be focused on rehabilitation, art, and culture which in turn will generate new revenue streams and habitat. Sustainable programs that also "double down" on regional programs like mangrove habitat reconstruction and set aside areas will directly benefit the resource.

We have the tools, the studies, the bodies, and the more importantly millions of square acres of resort and hotel waterfronts that could be monetized with net ecological benefits that will resonate for decades.

Who's interested?

Patric Douglas CEO