Poole Harbour Commissioners supported the installation of nine 3D printed concrete artificial reef units alongside a subtidal breakwater in Poole Bay in March 2020. The reef units were designed to increase biodiversity and provide vital complex habitat which is often lacking in concrete infrastructure. The reef units included habitat features including large holes, small holes, large tunnels, small tunnels, overhangs and flat surfaces. The reef units very quickly became home to various species including crabs, fish, sea squirts, molluscs, hydroids, anemones and seaweed. To date researchers from Bournemouth University have recorded 94 species on the 3D printed reef units compared to 76 on the breakwater.
The research was part of an EU funded Interreg Atlantic project “3DPARE” which also installed reef units in France, Spain and Portugal. The 3D printed reefs will be monitored until 2022. More information on the project is here.