Reef-based carbon sequestration study delivering 'encouraging results'Off the Texas coast, artificial RGV Reef is ‘capturing or trapping CO2 . . . in some significant proportions,’ says UTRGV research lead with Enbridge-funded study
There’s the proverbial knowledge sponge. On the flipside, there’s the dreaded fun sponge.
In this case, off the Texas coast, researchers believe they may be dealing with an environmental game-changer—the invaluable carbon sponge. In October 2022, work began on a groundbreaking carbon sequestration study on the RGV Reef, a 1,650-acre artificial reef off South Padre Island in the Gulf of Mexico. The project is being managed by the Friends of RGV Reef, a non-profit group that created the reef in 2017, and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) researchers, and funded through a $250,000 Fueling Futures grant from Enbridge. At the outset, it was hoped that the study could provide a seminal moment in the battle against climate change. And at the project’s midway point, the UTRGV researchers are seeing promising results. “The early data that we are seeing is delivering some encouraging results. The sponges and soft corals that cover the reef do contain high amounts of carbon,” says Dr. Richard Kline, Ph.D., Professor, School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences at UTRGV, whose team is leading the research. “We suspected that reefs, man-made or natural, could sequester or capture carbon. Now, initial data shows that the reef’s structure, the bottom or sediment, and the biomass, fish and other marine life in the water column, is indeed capturing or trapping CO2, a known greenhouse gas, in some significant proportions.”
Since its creation, the RGV Reef has already brought back substantial populations of fish and attracted growing numbers of other sea life. The majority of the artificial reef consists of cleansed, intentionally sunken vessels, concrete rail ties, and cinder blocks. “UTRGV’s research is the most comprehensive study in the world to determine the ability of artificial reefs to capture or trap carbon—and maybe provide a solution in dealing with our real-life climate challenges,” says Gary Glick, President of the Friends of RGV Reef. “If reefs prove to be a major force or a way to capture carbon, then this research could benefit every country in the world that has a coastline,” he adds. “As human beings, we need to look at all the ways we can reduce emissions and capture greenhouse gases. Reefs may be an important tool in our bigger toolbox that we can use to help us achieve a cleaner and brighter future.” After refining the data collection process, with supporting lab analysis, the study now enters its final 12-month phase. “The study is driven by the data we’re collecting. At the end of the study, we will publish our findings for the world to see,” says Dr. Kline. “We’ll be able to know definitively if reefs have the ability to capture carbon in enough concentrations to have a significant impact.” Article was originally posted by Enbridge The Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia (ARSBC) is awaiting Provincial Ministry of Environment (Parks) for review of our application for a park use permit to install a replica Ch-124 Sea King helicopter.
Society President and CEO Howie Robins comments “since the completion and publication of our 5-year marine biota data gathering known as Project A.B.I.S. (Annapolis Biodiversity Index Study) the evidence of net gain of species recruitment to the ship continues to prove the viability of re-use and repurpose of ships-to-reefs. Our objective is to build upon this success as an additional gift to the marine park through our application to add more complex habitat onto an already existing artificial reef, referencing it as a marine habitat amplification initiative.”
The CH-124 Sea King was an integral part of the Annapolis and sister ships as an extension of operational capability at sea. Sea King helicopters served Canada coast to coast for 55 years before being retired in 2019. It was the most operationally deployed helicopter in Royal Canadian Air Force history and the ARSBC will pay tribute to the aircraft, former crew, and maintenance engineers by this installment. Fabricated from uncoated steel plates, it will measure 69 ft long,16ft tall,11 ft wide and weigh 11 tons. Operational plans will be to lower by barge and crane into position onto the flight deck simulating a state of readiness to fly.
Robins added "the entire project is a first of its kind working with industry partners Apex Structural Design Ltd. Red Deer Alberta and Burnaby based George Third& Son metal fabricators. The skeletal format allows for unimpeded currents to flow-through depositing embryonic materials onto the structure as it has on the ship. “eco-adventure divers will enjoy this feature and will add significant recreational value to the marine park while building upon species recruitment, retainment and abundance.” ARSBC pays respect to the family of Phil Nuytten 13 August 1941 – 13 May 2023 Innovator, inventor, explorer, dreamer, trailblazer. Phil Nuytten was all these things and more.
Phil was a man who turned dreams into reality and, as a result, changed and expanded our knowledge and understanding of the world's oceans. He will be sorely missed.
FOR END-OF-LIFE SHIPS, a new life starts at the bottom of the ocean. Underwater artificial reefs take marine vessels and convert them to living incubators for a plethora of marine life, from plants, to sponges to fish. For a group of marine environmentalists, underwater visits to two ships reminded the team of the magic of reef making. A team from the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia (ARSBC) and the producers of a new groundbreaking underwater TV documentary, Water Worlds, came together in September to explore two artificial reefs: The YOGN located near Powell River and the former HMCS COLUMBIA near Campbell River. The purpose of the dive was to explore and film marine life for an upcoming Water Worlds episode featuring artificial reefs. Due to COVID restrictions, the ARSBC had not visited their latest reefing projects since 2018. Like magic, teams discovered over the last few years marine habitat has exploded. Like other artificial reefs managed by ARSBC, the YOGN and COLUMBIA show how end of life vessels have a second life in expanding marine habitat.
Rockfish and Lingcod Call YOGN Home
The teams were amazed to see so many resident rockfish and lingcod on the YOGN after only a few years as a reef. The USS YOGN-82 was an unpropelled gasoline barge built in 1943 by Concrete Ship Constructors, National City, California and launched in 1944. Displacing 4860 tons, she is 375 ft long, 56 ft wide and 38 ft deep. Each vessel had a crew of twelve and carried ten million liters of gasoline in twenty-four cargo tanks. She was reefed in June 2018 off Willingdon Beach in Powell River, BC and now rests on her keel fully upright in one hundred feet of water. As an artificial reef, the YOGN has been positioned where water currents deliver and deposit embryonic organisms onto its complex structure, continuously seeding all areas, especially the exterior. The ship now has a coating of algae that has formed a diatom matt holding numerous species of plants and filter feeder species. A diatom matt is essentially the basic building block of a new reef habitat and support system. Importantly, certain marine species that photosynthesize on artificial reefs also aid in carbon sequestration, the act of pulling in and capturing CO2 emissions from the atmosphere. The YOGN demonstrates how artificial reefs not only expand marine habitat but also help reduce greenhouse gases. COLUMBIA is an Incubator for Sponges and Fish
Teeming with life, the COLUMBIA appears to be an incubator for juvenile marine life, from sponges to fish. The former HMCS COLUMBIA was a Restigouche Class Destroyer Escort, built by the Burrard Drydock Company in North Vancouver. Commissioned on 7 November 1959, she served on Canada's East Coast until 1967 when she returned to Esquimalt as a stationary training ship. She was decommissioned in 1974 and reefed in June 1996 off Maude Island, Campbell River, BC and rests on her keel in about 120 ft of water with a 36⁰ list to port. Water Worlds Feature Artificial Reefs
Water Worlds Season 1 is the first all Aboriginal Canadian film production that focuses on the oceans and waterways around Canada through an Indigenous lens that highlights Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples working together to save Mother Earth. Each episode in the series will highlight those who’s mandate is to help make a difference. The ARSBC was thrilled to learn one episode will feature artificial reefs and include ARSBC as the ships-to-reefs disposal experts. The show is scheduled to air in the fall of 2023 on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). Narration by Métis actress Tantoo Cardinal is being negotiated. For more information about Water Worlds, Contact len@ciasolutions.ca
A collection of naval artifacts from five former Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) warships made its way to the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum.
The artifacts were delivered and presented to museum staff on July 25 by Howard Robins, President of the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia (ARSBC). “Everything I brought with me to the museum was either one or two of a kind on a ship we were working,” Robins said. “I looked for things that were memorable or personalized, or can in some way relate to the ship as a souvenir.” The items range from a brass statue to firing triggers, alarm bells, and ammunition magazine clips. Robins’ non-profit foundation was formed over 30 years ago and has sunk six former HMCS vessels to form nine of its artificial reefs in the coastal waters of BC. The ARSBC was displaying the items at trade shows or using them for educational purposes for students and other dive community members but deemed they were no longer needed. Photo above Tatiana Robinson, Curator of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, displays a solid brass wheel from HMCS Columbia. Howard Robins, President of the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia, displays a sculptor’s maquette of a Second World War-era merchant mariner that was to be placed on the flight deck of HMCS Cape Breton. They were some of the many items presented by the ARSBC to the museum in a presentation made on July 25 in Esquimalt. For more information about the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, visit navalandmilitarymuseum.org In the News – Sort Of
Artificial reefs in BC make for great news stories – and they provide equally great opportunities for editorial humour. ARSBC thanks cartoonist Adrian Raeside for his valuable insights on the subject. More from Adrian Raeside.... |
Sinking Wings Documentary on the making of ARSBC's Boeing 737 reef, by Mega Builders, a television series on the Discovery Channel and Science Channel. Each episode looks at the people and the machines involved in the construction of large-scale engineering projects. YOGN-82 Survey Dive September 2022 Artificial Reefs Highlighted as a Habitat and Tourism Option
Read the article by Justin Waddell in My Powell River Now, Nov 23, 2022 ARSBC Launches the Sea King Project
Read about the Sea King on our Projects page You can download the full pdf here ARSBC Goes Virtual!
Contact us if your group is interested in having our speakers present at your event – by Zoom, Skype, Teams, and PowerPoint. We will be available in person for events in the Vancouver area once Covid-19 social distance measures have been safely lifted. |