http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H0U4CvgiMk
Yes it is a video but I found it really interesting. So this artist want to help the coral reef in Cancun because it is starting to be run down and destroyed. This is the second largest reef next to the Australian Great reef. It is being run down by too many tourists, over fishing and pollution. Tourists could also be taking many of the parts of the reef. Jason deCaires Taylor is the one trying to help. He is really good at making sculptures and wants to make some out of underwater cement. It is a special marine grade cement that will allow algae and coral to attach to it. He then drops the statues down to the bottom of the ocean and then a couple months later fish and algae are all over and around it. Not only do the bodies and sculptures grow coral but also it attracts more tourists to the sculptures instead of having them go to the coral reef. He also has already put a lot down to make it seem like a little village. Also it provides a safe haven to small fish who need to hid from predators. When a predator comes then the fish will be able to swim down to the bottom near the feet. Also a dive boat has to bring people to the spot so they will think that it will boost their rates of money they make and save the real reef.
I think this is a great idea and maybe other people will catch on and start to build their own sculptures too. It really provides a great balance and just isn't something that will really hurt the environment. It helps provide a natural balance and is almost just like a real coral reef because it will provide safe places for fish and already has. So this is one of the greatest things that I have seen that will help protect our reefs and oceans. Since reefs are really important to the ocean. For example they provide a natural storm barrier and also filter some water to make it clearer.
1. How would you help protect our reefs besides build sculptures like these?
2. Why do you think Jason deCaires Taylor decided to do this?
3. How well do you think this will work in rebuilding reefs?
4. What other benefits might this help in our oceans?
5. Do you think this idea will catch on to other people soon, if so how long do you think we have until that happens?
I really think this is quite an interesting piece you shared here with us!! The idea itself in having these statutes under water by the coral reef was really quite creative and a lucrative idea as it seems to be capturing enough peoples attention that they made a movie out of it. At the same time, it also has benefits of helping protect fish and filter water, which is great. The only problem I could ever foresee with these statues is that if enough fish start to use them to protect themselves from predators, they could over populate themselves while in the mean time, if they all live under the statues and unable to be eaten, either their predators will die off or have to eat more of other species to make up for the food loss, which could hurt biodiversity levels. Hopefully this won't happen though!
ReplyDeleteI personally would love to go and see the statues. I actually have a bucket list (yes, believe it or not I'm 15 and I already have a list of things I'd like to do or see before I die...) and on my list is to go swimming in the great barrier reef!! I think it'd be beautiful and delightful to see one of earth's finest creations; this article reminded me of that dream and hopefully some day I'll be able tot turn it into a reality.
5. Seeing as there have been no bad after effects (as of yet) I'm under the assumption that yes, this sculpture movement will catch on (to a degree at least) and more people will use it in helping to rebuild reefs while acquiring other benefits from it as well. It'll probably take a few years before anyone comes straight out and follows the idea however, to see if there are any bad effects from it, or to see how much extra money they pull in from it and if it's worth the investment. Time will tell though.
I think that this is definatly a very innovative way of helping the enviorment and very different from what we have already been seeing. I like this because not only are we conseving what is left of coral reefs we are actually almost "creating" new ones. It is interesting to see how many ideas are out there becuase just when you think things cant get better, there is something new and better.
ReplyDeleteKeeping on the topic of new and improoved, this is like when you but and electronic item and as soon as you buy it something new and even more extravaggant comes out. Even though that is bad , what is happening in this is very good because it helps our enviroment and keeps everything in balance.
I think that this WILL catch on very fast (if it works well) because many people and scientists are trying to find various ways of helping th enviroment. If this does work well then there will be improovements made continually and this could be potentially a VERY useful idea. I hope that this can be improoved upon because i want the earth to be healthy so everything on it can be healthy.
I agree with both Emily and Stephanie; these "cement reefs" are certainly making a positive difference in our oceans. Not many people have heard about these sculptures, so I'm not sure how fast these new reefs will be used in other seas. I'm sure if the reefs make a surprising impact (negative OR positive) and faster than thought it would, it'll make more headliners and draw in people's attention.
ReplyDeleteThese sculptures remind me of the Terracotta Army Statues of Chinese warriors that were made in 210 BC. Although made for different sources, the Statues and the sculptures are similar in that they were made to help prevent something from happening- the Statues protecting their Emperor in the afterlife and the sculptures protecting marine life and its affects on our ocean and the world's ecosystem.
Along with this reflection and connection I also have a few questions in relation to the video:
1. What caught Jason deCaires Taylor's attention to get his involved in creating these sculptures?
2. What did it take to be allowed to put something like that in the ocean (i.e. government agreement, ocean protection agencies, etc)?
3. Is this idea affordable by anyone and everyone to be able to purchase the marine grade cement and make their own sculptures?
I agree with all of you. The reef idea was a very smart and helpful way of saying that he cares. I've never heard of such a creative and technical way of helping the environment. This definitely would help the fish in the way of creating a new home, and hopefully the reef will be kept well and added onto now and again. Wether it be natural of sculptured on, the reef will keep growing.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of for some odd reason, a mountain that you ski/snowboard on. It reminds me of how snow is based on and then the mountain adds more and more. Once it is enough snow, sometimes the mountain stops for a little and then natural snow accumulates on top of it.
I believe that this helps very much so and that the ocean needs this, because with out the reefs, the beauty of that part of the ocean won't be restored to full potential. The fish will never be able to have the same environment and home as they once did if the reef doesn't fully restore. The reef protects the coast from big waves and other natural features that the ocean could instigate. It also serves as a point of the ocean so you know where you are.