“Much of the marine vegetation along Finnmark [in the very north of Norway] has already gone. Studies show that as much as 90% [of the vegetation] has disappeared. Sea urchins and the king, or Kamchatka, crab, which was transferred there in the 1970s from the Pacific Ocean, are both to blame. But so is human activity at sea and on land.”The introduction of Kamchatka crab from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast by Russia about 30 years ago has been disastrous as far as the natural habitat is concerned. This crab, which the Norwegians now call king crab, has thrived in the Barents Sea. It is moving down the coast of Norway from Finnmark, destroying the vegetation as it goes, and has already been observed as far south as Lofoten.Reef Systems has spent years developing the new reef concept, which has now been tested in various environments.
“The idea is simple: just place some artificial reefs on the seabed and let nature take its course. After just a few months, vegetation will appear on the reefs,” Mr Meisingset says.However, the clue is to maximise the surface or growth area, i.e. the surface of the reef, in as little volume as possible. “You need surface area so that the algae and seaweed can settle on it and grow. The greater the surface area, the more vegetation you will get. By using pipes, you get a maximum surface area (M2) in a minimum volume area (M3).”
"We also hope that these reefs can create fishing grounds for traditional fishermen who utilise very simple and traditional, fishing gear,” Mr Meisingset says. “That is exciting.”
Recently the idea of creating a Marine Vegetation Fund along the lines of the Rain Forest Fund, which is claiming to save the rain forest particularly in Brazil, was launched in Norway. Creating these artificial reefs is a long-term activity and it is difficult to link investment in such reefs to a specific economic activity. Therefore, public financing of these projects seems to be the solution, and the Rain Forest Fund model shows some promise; last year it managed to attract no less than NOK6 billion ($945 million) in funds from the Norwegian government.“We have to think big in this,” says Mr Meisingset. “The ocean is so big, and the ocean means a lot to coastal nations like Norway. The ocean has given us food and a number of activities, and it is time we started cultivating it, giving something back to the ocean."
source:http://www.worldfishing.net/comment-and-analysis101/analysis/artificial-reefs-can-save-the-worlds-oceans
"We also hope that these reefs can create fishing grounds for traditional fishermen who utilise very simple and traditional, fishing gear,” Mr Meisingset says. “That is exciting.”
Recently the idea of creating a Marine Vegetation Fund along the lines of the Rain Forest Fund, which is claiming to save the rain forest particularly in Brazil, was launched in Norway. Creating these artificial reefs is a long-term activity and it is difficult to link investment in such reefs to a specific economic activity. Therefore, public financing of these projects seems to be the solution, and the Rain Forest Fund model shows some promise; last year it managed to attract no less than NOK6 billion ($945 million) in funds from the Norwegian government.“We have to think big in this,” says Mr Meisingset. “The ocean is so big, and the ocean means a lot to coastal nations like Norway. The ocean has given us food and a number of activities, and it is time we started cultivating it, giving something back to the ocean."
source:http://www.worldfishing.net/comment-and-analysis101/analysis/artificial-reefs-can-save-the-worlds-oceans
No comments:
Post a Comment