Page 11 - Q01-2021 Fins Magazine

by Patricia Pastrano
1000

Mermaids

Artificial Reef Project

coral reefs to oyster restoration,
mangrove restoration, and other
marine systems.”
Coral Loks are embedded in all of the ORA reef modules to provide the easy attachment of corals to the artificial reefs. Photo credit: Making Waves Production - Tim Sullivan

Using real models, mermaids are scanning technology. Emily Guglielmo, The donors to fund modules directly or purchase
sculpted using eco-friendly materials American Mermaid, was the first mermaid a memorial plaque placed on the module.
and placed under the ocean to create to be cast in this manner. Today, mermaids Plaques can be used to celebrate birthdays,
enchanting underwater mermaid have the option of a physical 3D scan or anniversaries and memorials for loved ones.
gardens. These artificial reefs transformed from a photo.
combine innovation with art and safe
materials to enhance marine habitats With 80 statues deployed and 920 to go, the
and create eco-friendly diving When the reefs are made, they are 1000 Mermaids project is just getting started.
destinations. embedded with ‘Coral Loks’ from Reef Cells. With projects continuing in Florida and now
An innovative solution that ‘simply screws’ expanding to Mexico, they expect to surpass
living coral into the reefs. These loks enable it eventually. “We’ll be adding to our sites
The 1000 Mermaid project originated coral to grow and be deployed more quickly as much as we can and plan to expand the
from an artist whose vision was to use and securely. They are now able to create Mermaids project all over the world.”
the mermaid as a symbol for raising reefs in areas that didn’t exist before and
marine conservation awareness. An have the ability to take a sandy bottom ocean
age-old symbol, the mermaid ties the floor and create a thriving fish habitat. Reef modules before they were
worlds above and below the surface, deployed in 2020.
the human world and our oceans. Deployments are expensive,
A costly process, their recent deployment with barge rental costs
entailed barge rental costs of $40,000 for (as pictured) running forty
The American Mermaid statue deployed in 2020 at the 1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef site. Shelby Thomas, CEO and Director a single day. Having received grants and thousand dollars a day.
Photo credit: Andre Johnson of Research at ORA explained, “The support from county and city entities, they
1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project is a mermaid sculpture helps exemplify the do look for donor funding from additional Photo credit:
project under the Ocean Rescue Alliance human connection to the ocean. Which avenues. There are options for individual Jack McCulley
(ORA). creates a unique dive site and helps connect
people back to the ocean.”
1000 MERMAIDS ARTIFICIAL REEF PROJECT
ORA’s primary focus is “creating different @1000mermaids
restoration technologies that help assist Mermaids were originally hand cast to make FB: 1000mermaids
with a lot of different marine systems, from the sculptures. Now they are cast using 3D www.1000mermaids.com

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