MEDIA RELEASE PR36684
ASR, LTD. Announces Completion of Europe's First Multi-Purpose Reef
VENICE BEACH, Calif. and RAGLAN, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
The New Reef is the First in the Northern Hemisphere to Revitalize a Seaside
Community, Provide Coastal Protection and Foster Marine Habitat
Amalgamate Solutions and Research (ASR), the world leader in the design and construction of multi-purpose
artificial reefs, announced today that it has completed Europe's first multi-purpose reef on the Boscombe shoreline,
just outside of southern England's coastal town of Bournemouth. The reef was engineered and constructed by
ASR, who spearheads the movement towards environmentally sensitive coastal protection.
ASR was enlisted to help Bournemouth improve its surfing conditions in order to increase tourism, which is part
of the town's 18 million dollar Boscombe Spa Village regeneration plan, but the new reef will provide a much more
substantial benefit to the beachside community. Mimicking nature, the multi-purpose reef provides the same beach
protection benefits of natural reefs - acting as a protective barrier to the coastline to help decrease sand erosion on
beaches, as well as creating a new marine habitat.
"At ASR we're passionate about multi-purpose reefs as the sustainable future of coastal protection. Our beaches
are facing increasing direct and in-direct threats from both humanity and the natural world, with issues like global
warming and the rise of the sea level," said Nick Behunin, managing partner, ASR. "While the initial investment to
build a reef is often more than seawalls and rock jetties, the environmental and economic benefits of multi-purpose
reefs far exceed those of the traditional methods - as beaches are protected without creating blight, marine habitat
is enhanced and beach communities get socio-economic benefits from increased recreational use."
There are several unique benefits to the creation of multi-purpose reefs as it pertains to coastal protection:
- Reefs decrease the rate of erosion on beaches by dissipating wave
energy before it has a chance to hit the beach
- Reefs create marine habitat and increase ecology
- Reefs can be designed to create a recreational amenity like surfing,
diving and fishing
- Reefs are submerged offshore structures, supporting the natural beauty
of the beach and ocean, unlike prominent seawalls or groin structures,
which can be unsightly and create blight
"The Boscombe Spa Village project already produced a rise in tourism, even before the completion of the reef,
re-establishing Boscombe to its rightful place as a leading destination beach resort. An affluent surfer market is
attracted to the area, and as a result, jobs have been created, the seafront transformed, a new water sports facility
built and a community revived. The reef is a perfect example of how an innovative free-to-use project can have
such a positive ripple effect in an area," said Roger Brown, Director of Leisure Services, Bournemouth Borough
Council. "While the reef will improve wave quality for surfers, it's exciting to know that there are underwater benefits
too, as sea life, including cuttlefish and spidercrabs, have already been making the artificial surf reef at Boscombe
their home."
What is a Multi-Purpose Reef?
Using cutting-edge biomimicry technology, multi-purpose reefs provide protection to shorelines in order to
prevent sand erosion, while simultaneously enhancing the under-water ecology and creating a recreational amenity
for fisherman, divers and in some cases, surfers.
Multi-purpose reefs are constructed under water outside the shoreline, in order to protect the beach from wave
action. The construction of reefs is highly specialized and uses geo-textile bags, weighing upwards of 2,500 tons
that are secured to a base that is anchored to the ocean floor. Sand is then pumped into the bags, as divers
monitor the process from the sea floor to ensure design requirements are met. Construction must be conducted
during perfect weather conditions and while the ocean is flat and calm.
The reef does not create waves, but instead acts as a ramp that changes the way the waves break - it harnesses
existing wave energy that used to break on the sand, causing erosion, and channels it to break on the offshore reef
instead. As a result, the beach is protected, ecology is enhanced, and improved conditions are created for surfers,
divers and fishermen.
Upcoming Projects - India's First Coastal Protection Reef
ASR has done design and feasibility study work for over 40 reefs around the world, with the level of interest from
governments, developers and local communities growing at a rapid pace.
ASR is currently constructing India's first coastal protection reef in Kovalam, Kerala, India. Kovalam a popular
tourist destination in southern India, but its shoreline is at risk of coastal erosion during the monsoon season. ASR
was contacted by the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala through the Department of Harbour
Engineering to design and construct an offshore multi-purpose reef to protect the beach, while improving ecology
and enhancing tourism through the introduction of a recreational water activities, such as surfing. Pending good
weather, the reef is expected to be completed in Q1 2010.
ASR also has plans to start several other reef projects in Europe, South Africa and the United States.
About ASR, LTD.
Amalgamate Solutions and Research (ASR) is the global leader in both the design and construction of multi-
purpose reefs with more than 30 years of experience, numerous awards and patents. ASR also provides a range of
consulting services, including numerical modeling, sustainable marine farm studies, wave energy projects,
biological monitoring, research-based technical investigations, baseline surveys, larval dispersal, ecological
surveys and assessment, and has worked with the largest desalination plant in the southern hemisphere.
The ASR philosophy is to Understand, Innovate, Sustain. Before undertaking a new project, the company's first
priority is to understand the natural processes governing a specific project site. This knowledge is then used to
develop an innovative and sustainable solution to the problem - this approach is always the same whether the
problem is erosion, sediment transport, effluent dispersion, ecological impacts, environmental impacts or poor surf.
SOURCE: ASR, LTD.
CONTACT: Emma Haber of Blink LA
+1-917-892-4700
emma@blinklosangeles.com
for ASR, LTD.
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