1. Tanya Ribakoff B.S. Eckerd College Reef Balls

2. Half circle shaped concrete balls with different size holes throughout Set on seafloor Submerged at high tide, exposed at low tide Create new artificial habitats for marine life Require permits upon deployment depending on location- can become property of government (limited liability)

3. Importance Increase surface area for colonization Firm, stable attachment for substrate Reduce energy demands Create Habitat diversity Increased turbulence creates feeding area Increase biomass for food chain Refuge from predators

4. Projects www.reefball.org Reef balls in 55+ countries with 3,000 projects in the last 12 years Including: Artifical reefs Estuary restoration Red mangrove planting Oyster reef creation Coral propagation Beach erosion prevention Memorial sites

6. Size of a basketball to 6000 lbs. Made from concrete with a pH similar to seawater poured into different sized fiberglass molds Can last over 500 years Unique because they can be floated to site

7. Uses: Fishing Diving Docks Channel markers Snorkeling Freshwater lakes Juvenile fish habitats Lobster habitats Marine reserves Hurricane threatened areas Live rock culture

8. MacDill Airforce Base Submerged Reef Ball Breakwater Project Locally, in 2004, Tampa Bay Watch installed 910 oyster domes, 28 tons clean washed 3” loose oyster shells, and 5,000 salt marsh grasses along 800 ft. of the SE shoreline of MacDill AFB Attempted to restore the wave beaten shoreline, reduce erosion, and promote new habitats

9. After a few weeks, 100% cover Oyster growth protects shoreline and filters seawater

10. Ethical Debate What will happen during hurricanes? How will reef balls influence currents? Are reef balls and other artificial reef products appropriate for a public resource? Or are we polluting our oceans with landfill waste?

11. References http://www.reefball.org http://www.reefball.org/album/florida/WestCoast/pinellascounty/ macdillairforcebaseproject/index.html http://www.ecoclub.com/news/062/interview.html