Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) recently announced that the U.S. Virgin Islands will protect coastal infrastructure and enhance resilience against future storms by establishing its first artificial coral reef. The initiative will be completed in partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), which has been awarded funding from DPNR’s Division of Fish & Wildlife to support the design, construction, and installation of a reef in the waters near the shoreline surrounding St. Thomas.
Currently, UVI is working to ready the strongest specimens out of approximately 15 types of coral in nurseries for eventual propagation onto the reef. The institution is collaborating with researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on cutting-edge technology to create an environmentally sensitive design using sourced materials ranging from carbon-friendly cement to natural chemicals aimed at stimulating coral growth. The permitting process for the project is with DPNR’s Division of Coastal Zone Management, and the Army Corps of Engineers is moving toward final approvals of location.
Once completed, the reef, which will take the shape of an iconic petroglyph, will be tested and monitored by scientists for its effectiveness. The project is slated for completion in July.
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