4th May 2020
Reef Deployment in Poole Bay
On Tuesday 17th March Bournemouth University successfully deployed the 3DPARE 3D printed artificial reef units on the seabed in Poole Bay, South coast of England. With the help of a barge and surface supplied divers we lifted and positioned the reef units alongside an existing breakwater. There are four artificial reef designs and each design has been 3D printed in two different concrete mixes, creating a total of 8 reef units. All of the reef units contain holes, tunnels and overhangs- features which provide suitable habitat for marine life. We also deployed a control unit which consisted of a solid concrete cube, half with a 3D printed finish and half with a smooth concrete finish. The eight artificial reef units and control block were placed in a straight line parallel to the breakwater and each separated by 3m. Identical reef units will be deployed in the same configuration in France, Spain and Portugal.
The day after deployment SCUBA divers surveyed the reefs and within 24hours several species of crabs had already moved into the reef units and were sat inside the holes and tunnels.
