SBD FISH HABITAT PROJECTS. Last update on September 5, 2016.
Marine life tends to congregate around or near all sorts of "structures" in the water. Whether they are natural reef/rock
formations or man-made doesn't make a difference to them. Wrecks, purposely sunk structures and things like piers and
oil-rigs attract all sorts of marine life. Though one can argue about what to call these structures, "artificial reef" or "fish
congregation devices", all agree that these structures can be very beneficial in aiding marine life to make a recovery
(from the impact of heavy fishing). Unfortunately only a few places can be "managed" or protected well enough to avoid
fishermen going out and drop nets on or around these structures. For sites that are not protected, a way has to be found to
discourage fishermen from going there.
Initially, Ken constructed wave breakers back in 1992, some of which were
made into 2 piers. These helped stopping sand from being washed away from
the beach.
Since then good, and bad, things happened with regards to marine life at this
beach. A bay once rich in fish, was just about totally fished-out by day-trippers
using fine-mesh nets.
Two old kayaks that were sunk in 1992, as part of the wave breakers, had
heaps of little fish sheltering around it. Unfortunately the kayak was sunk in
water too shallow. Every now and then the kayaks are "dry". Not only was it not
much use for the fish, typhoons gave them quite a beating.
Early in 2014, somebody sank 2 old "canadian style canoes".
Quite close to where the tire structures and dinghy were sunk.
October 2014.
3 "cubes", made from wooden pallets and weighed-down by rocks.
A 3rd kayak was sunk late 2010. It was sunk at around 5 mtr dept.
The kayak was held in place by large pieces of concrete with poles in them.
When dived in early 2011, quite a lot of fish could be seen around it. This gave us
the idea to put a little more effort into making it "bigger and better.
There were unfortunately also remnants of nets stuck to the poles (from the
anchor weights). This did gives us an idea though as to how to discourage
people dropping nets on the AR.
This was the first one.
In November visited the "cubes".
In 2015 a number of other structures were added. Lots of small fish have made it their home with the odd larger fishes. Snapper, pomfret and the odd grouper :-)
Unfortunately some spear-fishermen visit every now and then and take the larger fish.
New structures will probably be placed further away, making them harder to find.
After the initial kayak, a tire-structure was added early 2011. Most tires were
collected from the nearby mangroves. The rest were from a rubbish tip.
sighting of small groupers and some cuttle fish.
Unfortunately they were most likely caught by fishermen not long after that.
More "poles" have been added since to discourage the use of nets.
The first tire structure added to the Kayak, placed at about 5 mtr depth.
On a sunny day in July 2011, 4 of us got together on the beach again.
Discarded tires from a garage, and a typhoon-damaged dinghy were about to be
made useful again.
Christine was the photographer while Mark, Robert and Ken did the hard work.
It took a few hours to drill lots of holes in the tires and the dinghy's gun whale,
and to remove all the buoyancy (foam) from the dinghy.
The first 2 things we placed were two tire-structures. Just a few metres away
from the kayak.
Once the tires were in place, we took the dinghy out. Despite the holes, cracks
the lack of foam, it took a lot of work to sink it.
Despite the use of a "support boat", by the time we got it down, it settled away
from the intended location. It actually landed right on top of the tires we just
placed. The next day it was seen wedged right in between the 2 tire structures.
Since it is all tied together, it actually has helped securing it all in place.
We've dived this site a few times now and we've seen quite a few fish.
Mark on the "support boat".