210 artificial reefs to be installed near Worli Koliwada

Mumbai is poised to witness the installation of 210 artificial reefs in the Arabian Sea near Worli Koliwada.

• This marks the second artificial reef deployment in the country, following the first one in Pondicherry.

About Artificial reefs:

• Artificial reefs are man-made structures that are intentionally placed on the seafloor or submerged in bodies of water with the intention of providing a habitat for marine life.
• They are designed to mimic natural reefs and provide shelter, food sources, and breeding grounds for various marine organisms.
  • A natural reef refers to a ridge of material, such as rocks or coral skeletons, located at or near the ocean’s surface.
  • These reefs can form as a result of both biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (physical or chemical) processes.
• They are typically built in areas with a generally featureless bottom to promote marine life.
• Materials utilized for constructing artificial reefs encompasses rocks, cinder blocks, wood, recycled tires, limestone, steel, and concrete.

Benefits of artificial reefs:

• Habitat Enhancement: Artificial reefs provide new habitats for various marine organisms, including fish, corals, sponges, and invertebrates.
  • They can help restore habitats that have been damaged or destroyed by human activities such as coastal development, pollution, and overfishing.
• Fisheries Management: Artificial reefs can serve as nurseries and feeding grounds for fish, helping to support local fisheries and replenish depleted fish populations.
• Erosion Control: In some coastal areas, artificial reefs are deployed to help mitigate erosion by reducing wave energy and stabilizing the seafloor.
  • This can protect shorelines and infrastructure from the effects of storms and sea-level rise.

Government initiative:

• The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a central government initiative aimed at promoting artificial reefs to enhance sustainable fishing practices.
• The scheme is projected to invest approximately Rs 20,050 crores over a span of five years, from 2020–21 to 2024–25.
• The Department of Fisheries promotes artificial reef units for coastal states as a sub-activity under the “Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages” of the scheme.
• This initiative is implemented with support from the Fishery Survey of India and the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute.

Ref:Source