Bahrain Reef Ball Projects

Gulf Construction - Online Edition - Al Hilal Publishing & Marketing Group (Reef Balls in Bahrain) January 2003

Sept. 20 2002, The Gulf News (the voice of Bahrain), "Artificial reef balls new home for fish" By DALAL AL ALAWI

In 10/02 Jassim Al Qassir / Bahrain Fisheries Dept approved 50 large (Super and Goliath Size) reef balls
for mitigation purpose of the Amwaj Island development which is operated by Ossis Property Development. Grace Construction Company was contracted for construction of the imitation Reef Balls at 3 sites (10, 20 and 20) approx 7 miles north of Bahrain for trial and study. Reef Ball Development Group has these coordinates but they are not being released to avoid fishing pressure. Ossic Property Development, the Bahrain Fishery Department and Grace Construction Company did not have a license to build or use Reef Balls and these Reef Balls are not genuine Reef Balls. Although one set has the Reef Ball surface textures, these balls lack interconnected holes, holes of different sizes, and a base. The type of concrete in the mix is also unknown. Reef Ball Staff went to Bahrain in July 2002 and dove on the site and is pursuing the end of illegal copying of Reef Balls in this project so that future quality standards can be obtained in Bahrain. (Pictures of the copied Reef Balls). Reef Ball has also written a report for the Bahrain Fisheries Department with future recommendations for Bahrain's artificial reef program.

Reef Ball Foundation Report for Bahrain Fisheries Department with our recommendations for an Artificial Reef Program (HTML Format, word version available from RBDG).

Reef Balls ^TM: An advanced technique to mimic natural reef systems using designed artificial reefs (Abstract of above in Arabic)

Status of the Coral Reefs of the PERSIAN/ARABIAN GULF AND ARABIAN SEA REGION (PDF)

Photos from the Reef Ball July 2003 Bahrain Visit
-Bahrain Aquaculture Facilities

Posters of Bahrain Fish/Corals etc.

Photo of Bahrain Mangrove Replanting Project (wide screen)

Materials of Opportunity On Land (Pre 2002 Program)

Dioramas of Reef Balls in Department of Fisheries

Other Information

JassimAl Qassir / Bahrain Fisheries Dept
fax (+973) 728459
phone (+973)729595
jaq52@batelco.com.bh

CC. (Charles) Haine
Posford Haskoning Environment Gulf
Bahrain
Environment (EM)

Tel: +973 533259
Mob: +973 9191218
Fax: +973 533 754
Email: pdegulf@batelco.com.bh
This group is a consulting firm and did an artificial reef report for the government of Bahrain.

Kareem Shamma
Project Manager
OSSIS PROPERTY DEVELOPERS
P.O.Box 11990,
Diplomatic Area,
Manama,
Kingdom of Bahrain

Tel: 532320
Fax: 541114
email: kareem@ossisonline.com

GRACE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY (No relation to W.R. Grace)
Manager Alex Kuralitheram
(277536)

Coordinates of Reef Balls in Bahrain

Authorized Contractors for the Area

Aquatique, owned by Rob Gregory <talamruk@batelco.com.bh> or <luludive@batelco.com.bh> has been a Reef Ball representative for Bahrain since Dec 2001. Aquatique is in the recreational pearl diving business. Aquatique has not yet received mold or training but is actively working on Reef Ball projects along with Kuwait Reef Ball Company.
PO Box 5521, Manama, Bahrain. (973( 271780, Fax (973) 251408 www.pearldive.com

Company for integrated sea and coastal research and authorized Reef Ball Contractor

MariLim
Dipl.-Biol. Thomas Meyer
Wischhofstraße 1-3, Building 11
24148 Kiel
Germany

FON: +49 (0) 431 72070 81
FAX: +49 (0) 431 72070 85