A Brief History of the UK Artificial Reef Scene
Introduction
Firstly I shall introduce
myself: my name is Alex Maeger and I am a coastal engineer. I studied
artificial surfing reefs for my university dissertation and am now active in
the UK artificial reef scene. I have written this paper following a brief
period of research on the broader field of multifunctional artificial reefs and
do not claim that all I state in this document is perfectly true. This document
should however give a somewhat accurate review of the current UK artificial
reef scene.
The topic of artificial
reefs can be broken down into three main areas: 1, coastal defence; 2,
biological enhancement; and 3, recreational enhancement.
1, there are presently no reefs, or submerged breakwaters as
they are also known, being used as forms of coastal defence along the coastline
of the UK. The closest we have to reefs in the UK are water piercing
rubble-mound breakwaters that are submerged only at spring high water but these
are far from being true reefs.
Water piercing breakwaters
have been the preferred form of offshore defence by companies whom have
tendered for work in the UK until now. There are several examples of
breakwaters being used at present with varying degrees of success. An
oceanographer from one of the major UK coastal engineering consultant said,
when asked to comment on the issue of submerged breakwaters, “we need proof
that they work as a form of coastal defence from someone other than the only company
in the world that design them”. At present ASR Ltd. (ASR), of New Zealand, are
the world leaders in the market of multifunctional artificial reefs. The
feeling conveyed by this employee was that they, as a company, would like to
design reefs but unfortunately they do not have enough information to do so.
2, a better-recognized scene has been established for reefs
being used for biological enhancement. Such reefs are easier to design because
they are usually located in water with less wave-induced forces. They are
placed to encourage marine life in both volume and diversity. A leading figure
in this field is Dr Antony Jensen who is a lecturer at the Southampton
Oceanography Centre and is also the coordinator of European Artificial Reef
Research Network (EARRN). Dr Jensen, and an associate, has pioneered the use of
waste materials for the construction of artificial reefs for biological
enhancement. There have been two such reefs constructed in Poole Harbour,
England, one made from tyres and the other made from concrete with a pulverised
fuel ash additive. These reefs have been monitored over a period of time to
check whether any toxins have leached in to the water and are showing
encouraging results.
The Scottish Association for
Marine Science (SAMS) has established another project in Lock Linnhe, Scotland.
This development consists of six or more different clusters of concrete blocks
and is being used to research many different aspects of biological enhancement.
The latest progress report from this project indicates that, although the water
is cold and murky, the reef is showing promising signs of biological
enhancement.
Reef Balls are a very
popular method of encouraging marine biology in other countries with many
examples of their success in Florida, USA, and the Caribbean. Reef Balls have
also been used in the UK but in numbers far less than those used in the USA.
There is a project where some reef balls have been installed in a London Canal
and also in an aquarium somewhere in England. Dr Jensen has also done some
tests on reef balls but this is about the sum total of work done on reef balls.
There is a report that some rouge reef balls have been deployed without
permission at a location in Scotland but this story cannot be verified.
There is also a proposal
that decommissioned oil rigs in the North Sea be used to generate an artificial
habitat for marine wildlife. This technique has been used successfully in the
USA to both enhance marine life and create a diving amenity. There are,
however, a few problems with implementing the idea in the UK: a, fishermen have
been promised they can fish the rigs once they are decommissioned; and b, the
North Sea does not have a great recreational appeal to divers and hence any
project would be strictly limited to biological enhancement.
3, the artificial surfing reef scene in the UK has been led by
the crusader David Weight. The idea of manufacturing reefs for surfing purposes
came to him after he realised that the Dorset coastline would be a perfect
setting to use reefs for coastal defence; not only are long stretches of beach
littered with groynes but there is also a small tidal range. Both these factors
lend themselves perfectly to reefs.
David first put pen to paper
in 1993 in response to a television programme that highlighted the problem
faced when disposing of tyres. Although there was no positive response from
this lead it turned out to be the first step on a path that has led the UK into
a position where there are now plans for two artificial surfing reefs.
David then decided to write
to the Bournemouth Council engineers since Bournemouth is probably the best
place for a reef to be built in Dorset. He put forward a proposal for a reef
made of tyres that would be designed to produce surfing waves. This, again,
came to a dead end but the debate that it stimulated was useful. It became
apparent that the engineers did not like reefs, because they were not a proven
form of coastal defence, and that they did not like tyres, because of the
threat that they posed to the marine environment. It just so happened that at
this time Dr Jensen was starting his research into tyre reefs.
After receiving a couple
more discouraging letters David decided to drop the activist stance and
research the subject for his own personal interest. It was apparent at this
time that none of the leading coastal engineers in the UK were interested in
surfing and hence no research was being done in the UK on the subject. Finally,
in 1997, the 1st International Surfing Reef Symposium was held in
Sydney and David realised that there were other people in the world that shared
the same interest. David politely asked his employers, Currie & Brown
(C&B), an international company of construction consultants, to purchase
the proceedings of this conference and he started to liase with colleagues to
initiate a multifunctional artificial reef scheme. Proposals were drawn up for
various projects around the south of England and some research was conducted
through a student at MSc level. Whilst the proceedings of the conference had
broadened the knowledge base of those working at C&B there was still a lot
of research that needed to be done. David realised this need for research and
approached some of the larger companies and organisations in the country. Unfortunately
no one in the UK wanted to fund any such research and, with no research, there
was no chance of any progress. With neither the government or any major
companies in the UK interested in artificial reefs C&B had to pull out as
well.
In the mean time Professor
Kerry Black, from The University of Waikato, New Zealand, had the facilities
and resources necessary to do the much-needed research and he managed to turn
artificial surfing reefs into a viable product. This intensive period of
research, known as the Artificial Reefs Program, furnished Professor Black with
a portfolio of papers that established how to design an artificial reef for
both surfing and coastal defence purposes. Professor Black then collaborated
with some of his highly qualified colleagues, whom are also experienced
surfers, to form the company called ASR Limited.
David, back in the UK, was
in the familiar situation where his interest in artificial reefs had become a
personal crusade. He had now developed proposals for several sites around the
UK with one of them being at Newquay. He submitted the proposal to Newquay
Council but unfortunately it was refused on the grounds that the
technologically was unsubstantiated. Fortunately though, in the previous round
of developments with C&B, David had gained a contact with the government’s
regional engineer for the south west of England. This engineer, who was
environmentally aware, saw some of the benefits that artificial reefs could
offer to the environment and to the community. He suggested that David put a
proposal forward for a reef at Bournemouth using ASR as the consulting
engineers. A proposal was drawn up, ASR showed interest, and a presentation was
arranged to put the idea forward to the Bournemouth Councillors. The response
to the presentation was mixed: the people from leisure and tourism liked it;
the local residents did not like the idea of attracting surfers to the area;
and the council engineer did not want to use reefs as a form of coastal
defence. On leaving the meeting it was suggested that an external report be
commissioned to determine what effect a reef would have on the coastline in
order to determine whether or not a reef would be a good form of coastal
defence. This report was returned with a neutral response that left an open
opportunity for ASR to prove that the reef would have no detrimental effect on
the coastline. The residents, given time, also come around to the idea of
having a reef and so, with leisure/tourism, the local residents and the
engineer satisfied, everything was set to go ahead. With the feasibility study
complete, and the funding sorted, it is now just a matter for the Council to
give the final instruction so that the last stages of the project can begin.
ASR, in the meantime, has formed an alliance with C&B where ASR deals with
the design side of the scheme and C&B look after the construction side.
Meanwhile, in Newquay,
David’s brother, Anthony, was writing proposals of his own. After watching
David struggle with his reef campaign Anthony finally found an opportunity to
help him. Anthony, who is also a keen surfer, was lucky enough to be given the
post of Sustainable Development Officer for Cornwall County Council. It was
then, with sustainability in mind, that he realised how environmentally friendly
artificial reefs are and hence he got writing to some of the local councillors.
The councillors showed an interest and so a series of meetings were arranged
with interest growing all the time. The scheme then became considerably more
viable when Gul International put some money forward to help fund a feasibility
study. This in turn spurred other local companies and councils to contribute
money and the project started to snowball. The Newquay Artificial Reef Company
was formed to handle the money and a brief was drawn up to explain that the
council wanted. In the words of the council “the project must be exciting, must
create more and better surf, and must not be a financial risk”. A feasibility
study has been commissioned, conducted by ASR in association with C&B, and
the results look promising. The report addressed 3 main issues: a, can good
surfing waves be produced; b, will there be any environmental problems; and c,
can the reef be multifunctional. Through consultation a site was chosen that
suited both the fisherman and the surfers. The site has good swell, shelter
from the wind and enough access for boats to get past. The next steps for the
Newquay reef are: a, cost estimate; b, talking to funding bodies; c, public
consultation; d, geotechnical assessment; e, environmental assessment; and f,
final design.
At present Bournemouth and
Newquay are muscling for first place with both looking for the prestige of
being the first artificial surfing reef in the UK. This healthy competition is
backed by the fact that they are both looking like promising projects.
The increase in awareness of
artificial reefs has given lead to other proposals and there is now talk of
reefs at Borth, in Wales, and at Scarborough and Lime Regis in England.
The artificial reef scene in
the UK has developed from nothing over the last 15 years and is only 40 or so
years old on the global scene. Artificial reefs are still very young, and hence
there is a lot of scepticism about them, but there is the driving force that is
created by the air of innovation and excitement that surrounds them. It is true
that more research needs to be done by independent bodies to open up this very
restricted market but it is also true that there are some large consultants in
this country that have the knowledge and the power to start using reefs as a
form of coastal defence. Experience gained from surfing reefs constructed
around the world show that the worst mistake makes made to date were the
failure to account for settlement and an under-estimate in the size of reef
required to have an effect on the waves. It is worth remembering that so many
of today’s coastal defence schemes fail in ways so much more catastrophic than
this so reefs are relatively low in risk even though they are still relatively
young.
Artificial reefs are a
highly sustainable form of coastal defence. They mimic natural land forms and
work in harmony with natural processes to create a form of coastal defence that
is not only aesthetically more pleasing but can also provide an amenity for
surfers. Now that the UK is backing artificial surfing reefs it is not only
pledging its support to surfers but also support to the environment as a whole.
Use nature as an
exapmle/proof