451
depending on the types of materials used. Ships, tanks, planes, and cars are drained
of gasoline, oil, and other polluting fluids. Generally, the engine and any buoyant
materials are also removed (Meier and Martin 1985). The removal of brass fittings,
commonly found in ships, is important because brass is toxic for some marine
organisms (Reef Ball Development, Ltd. 1997). Deployment of ships is usually
done with explosives. Ships are transported with tugboats to the target location and
the explosives are detonated. Barges are used to transport cars and other materials
to the artificial reef site.
Scrap tires have been used in artificial reefs off the coasts of Virginia, North and
South Carolina, (Meier and Martin 1985) and Florida. One of the largest scrap tire
reefs, the Osborne Reef off the Florida coast, contains nearly two million tires. An
essential part of the preparation process includes punching holes in the tires to eliminate flotation problems. Goodyear has developed a device that punches three large
holes in the circumference of the tire. Other devices, such as electric drills, are also
effective. After the tires are punched, they are compressed into bundles of ten to
twelve tires and bound together using nylon banding materials. If the location of the
artificial reef is prone to stormy weather or strong currents, the tires must be filled
with cement ballast. Boats or barges can be used to deploy the tires. More fish are
attracted to the reefs if the bundles are stacked on top of one another (Candle 1985).
A relatively recent development (1993–1994) in artificial reef construction is the
use of prefabricated concrete structures called Reef Balls. These hollow domeshaped structures resemble natural coral heads produced by some coral species.
They have holes of different sizes which allow fish and other marine organisms to
enter the interior. The holes are designed to create a whirlpool effect inside the ball
to feed the invertebrates and corals. Reef Ball design recognizes the fact that the
profile of a structure alone will not support fish. Surface areas need current, light or
both to be productive.
The early initiatives by the MSSRF even before the tsunami. The MSSRF
launched a major programme in 1996 for restoration of MSSRF launched a major
programme in 1996 for restoration of mangrove wetlands of the east coast of India,
with financial mangrove wetlands of the east coast of India, with financial support
under the India Canada Environment Facility (ICEF) and support under the India
Canada Environment Facility (ICEF) and in collaboration with the Ministry of
Environment and Forests in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and
Forests and State Forest Departments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and State
Forest Departments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. In
Gujarat, mangrove restoration project (REMAG) was In Gujarat, mangrove restoration project (REMAG) was implemented by the State Forest Department along with
Gujarat implemented by the State Forest Department along with Gujarat Ecology
Commission (GEC) during 2002 Ecology Commission (GEC) during 2002–2007
with financial 2007 with financial support from the ICEF. Palk Bay region in southeast coast of India is known for its mangroves, sea grass beds and fishery productivity. This bay separates India and Srilanka. Our project is aimed to establish
community based mangrove protection sites. This mangrove sites are called as
“seed banks” which is divided into several mangrove thickets. The sites are located
14 Coastal Wetland Restoration: Concepts, Methodology, and Application Areas…
depending on the types of materials used. Ships, tanks, planes, and cars are drained
of gasoline, oil, and other polluting fluids. Generally, the engine and any buoyant
materials are also removed (Meier and Martin 1985). The removal of brass fittings,
commonly found in ships, is important because brass is toxic for some marine
organisms (Reef Ball Development, Ltd. 1997). Deployment of ships is usually
done with explosives. Ships are transported with tugboats to the target location and
the explosives are detonated. Barges are used to transport cars and other materials
to the artificial reef site.
Scrap tires have been used in artificial reefs off the coasts of Virginia, North and
South Carolina, (Meier and Martin 1985) and Florida. One of the largest scrap tire
reefs, the Osborne Reef off the Florida coast, contains nearly two million tires. An
essential part of the preparation process includes punching holes in the tires to eliminate flotation problems. Goodyear has developed a device that punches three large
holes in the circumference of the tire. Other devices, such as electric drills, are also
effective. After the tires are punched, they are compressed into bundles of ten to
twelve tires and bound together using nylon banding materials. If the location of the
artificial reef is prone to stormy weather or strong currents, the tires must be filled
with cement ballast. Boats or barges can be used to deploy the tires. More fish are
attracted to the reefs if the bundles are stacked on top of one another (Candle 1985).
A relatively recent development (1993–1994) in artificial reef construction is the
use of prefabricated concrete structures called Reef Balls. These hollow domeshaped structures resemble natural coral heads produced by some coral species.
They have holes of different sizes which allow fish and other marine organisms to
enter the interior. The holes are designed to create a whirlpool effect inside the ball
to feed the invertebrates and corals. Reef Ball design recognizes the fact that the
profile of a structure alone will not support fish. Surface areas need current, light or
both to be productive.
The early initiatives by the MSSRF even before the tsunami. The MSSRF
launched a major programme in 1996 for restoration of MSSRF launched a major
programme in 1996 for restoration of mangrove wetlands of the east coast of India,
with financial mangrove wetlands of the east coast of India, with financial support
under the India Canada Environment Facility (ICEF) and support under the India
Canada Environment Facility (ICEF) and in collaboration with the Ministry of
Environment and Forests in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and
Forests and State Forest Departments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and State
Forest Departments of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. In
Gujarat, mangrove restoration project (REMAG) was In Gujarat, mangrove restoration project (REMAG) was implemented by the State Forest Department along with
Gujarat implemented by the State Forest Department along with Gujarat Ecology
Commission (GEC) during 2002 Ecology Commission (GEC) during 2002–2007
with financial 2007 with financial support from the ICEF. Palk Bay region in southeast coast of India is known for its mangroves, sea grass beds and fishery productivity. This bay separates India and Srilanka. Our project is aimed to establish
community based mangrove protection sites. This mangrove sites are called as
“seed banks” which is divided into several mangrove thickets. The sites are located
14 Coastal Wetland Restoration: Concepts, Methodology, and Application Areas…