Ecological Contribution to the Replacement of Artificial Coral Reef Settlements Using Concrete Structures made with Hybrid Cements

Abstract

Studies indicate that artificial reefs for coral reef restoration are often based on concrete structures, and the insertion of these structures is lately produced with hybrid cements that add common Portland cement and other new slag-based cements, as complementary elements in the set of essential raw materials for the study, production and installation of artificial marine reefs, contributing in a stable way to the development of its fauna and flora in a safe and sustainable way, given the use of in situ monitoring processes that combine the obtaining of results from the experiments, regarding their physical and mechanical characteristics in situ.

The application of concrete in reef restoration has several benefits, among which are durability, stability, safety, availability and flexibility of the shape and its chemical composition like the reef substrate.

Constant global variations in coral protection have led to a call for global climate action, for better management of critical places such as overfishing and pollution, as well as an increase in efforts aimed at recovery. The reconstruction of coral reefs has been carried out on smaller scales and experimental actions, leaving ample field for new options.

The underwater environment of coral islands contains concrete structures of different designs and geographical origins, characterized by an open pattern, deposited as cages on mats based on the seabed, creating a zone of biological equilibrium.

The use of these large rigid structures allows the marine environment to be protected from illegal trawling movements, contributing to the recovery of biological diversity in areas of compatible depths, without the force of extreme currents as well as the absence of extreme climatic conditions, to ensure the durability of the structures.

In a different way, in coral maintenance is applied, where corals are first grown in nurseries and then planted on recovered or artificial reefs, given that artificial reefs have different shapes and materials, emphasizing concrete as more specified and applied.