There are many techniques for the restoration of a coral system, but taking into account the areas contdition, and some logistical difficulties on infrastructure, we evaluated a methodology that didn´t need much continuous intervention.
Field tests were realized by the inmersion of modules with different material composition, that allowed us to conclude that the ecological mortar that we used accomplished with the physical and chemical aspects, needed to ensure the continued growth of coral reefs.
These tests were pioneers in Colombia, and no other results in the country were as good as these. It is important to say that these studies results only applied directly to this specific area of work, but they may be the base for future projects to build artificial reefs.
The study site was "Isla Palma", located in Morrosquillos Gulf bordering the Colombian Atlantic ocean. This place is an ecologically damaged area and makes part of one of the largest coral reefs in the country (Colombia). The biological colonization evaluation for the samples was developed in partnership with the research group "Limnobase y Biotamar" from "Universidad de Antioquia". Biological monitoring results and related analyzis were performed by the student Cristian Camilo Bedoya as his degree work for the Biologist title under the direction of Dr. Quang Lizzet Young, doctor on Marine biology.
Due to the deterioration of coral reefs around the world, the need to rehabilitate marine environments has increased considerably. This is why artificial reefs have been proposed as a tool for the conservation of these reef ecosystems and their rehabilitation.
In 2012 we rolled out an investigational project that was successful. The purpose was to build artificial reefs to conserve the Colombian Caribbean ocean. This project depended on the participation of CORALMAR, the research work made by the construction architect Mónica Bedoya and the logistic, financial and technical support of InLak'Ech.
Artificial Reefs
In the first experiments and trials, within 8 months, in 2012, we found organisms growing and colonizing. We discovered 25 marine toxins, 21 of them corresponding to epibiota, specificly to the secil type.