The Indian marine ecosystem has been under threat for long due to climate change, pollution and destructive fishing practices. As a result, aquatic species find it extremely difficult to survive.
In a unique attempt, 17-year-old Mumbai lad Siddharth Pillai has created an artificial reef model that is to become home to many aquatic species off the Puducherry coast. Siddharth a student of Mumbai's BD Somani school is the first Indian to create a modular artificial reef in Puducherry.
Siddharth has been actively diving for five years on the coasts of Andamans, Bali, and Malaysia and has a Masters certificate in Scuba Diving. "When I was sixteen, while scuba diving in the Andamans, I learned about coral bleaching, and the precariousness of the global situation regarding the overall marine ecosystem. Ever since then I have decided to work to the best of my ability to contribute towards rescuing these marine animals; I felt like I owed it to them", said Siddharth Pillai.
"Natural reefs begin when small aquatic animals called polyps attach themselves to a rock on the seafloor and form a symbiotic relationship with bacteria. These organisms lend reefs their vibrant hues and help support millions of marine lives. When the ocean's temperature rises beyond 31 degrees, coral bleaching occurs as polyps evict their bacteria resulting in the polyps losing both their colour and their prime source of nutrition. Once bleached, the coral dies in less than 30 days", explained Siddharth about the urge and the need behind the creation.
A Class 11 student Siddharth has spent the greater part of 2018 working with Temple Adventures, a dive centre at Puducherry to create a model for an artificial coral reef structure. "Puducherry is blessed with a wonderful marine ecosystem, but over the last few decades, restless overfishing has destroyed its coral and killed its fish", added Siddharth.
While pursuing a 45-day 3-D printing workshop in Mumbai the young student had a eureka moment. His idea was to create a modular artificial reef design for sustainable and efficient coral growth, providing coral polyps a source of calcium, and giving fish a place to reside to escape the relentless fishing activities.
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On experimenting with various mixes the artificial reef blocks were created using a mix of dolomite (composed of calcium magnesium carbonate) and cement that coral polyps could latch on to thrive. These blocks were immersed on the seabed off Puducherry in October 2018 and monitored over 6 months for the successful growth of blastomeres and reef as well as a home for smaller fish species.
Siddharth's 3D model has been granted patent by the Indian patent office and this pilot proved that the material (dolomite and cement) used to build the modular structures are beneficial for aquatic life and the modular artificial reef has positively impacted the marine eco-system.
"On successful competition of the pilot, using the same material, I designed a larger model - applying 3D design to create modular lego-like blocks that could be attached to one another. The modular design doesn't require heavy-duty machinery to deploy and can be used in remote locations to create artificial reefs at a lower cost as well as extend the reef almost perennially. I got two hundred blocks made in Vasai, weighing 11 to 14 kgs each and transported them to Puducherry by road. I received assistance from the Temple Dive Centre and a total of 10 people worked over 3 days through exceedingly reduced visibility, 20 metres deep in the Bay of Bengal to create a new reef and fish habitat," said Siddharth whilst recalling the herculean task of installing the artificial reef on the seabed in Puducherry coast.
He had raised around two lakhs through crowd-funding for the construction of the reef and has named it Bennington's Reef as a tribute to the late American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor Chester Bennington.
Siddharth is currently working with Temple Adventures to start a Reef Rebuilding program to offer all divers an opportunity to contribute towards conservation and developing Bennington's Reef. Siddharth is also going to present a scientific paper on the same in the International congress of conservational Biology in Kuala Lampur in July 2019.
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