Eco tourism......Mombasa
Mombasa's first "Artificial Reef"
Coral Reefs are one of the richest and productive ecosystems in the world,
they are however also one of the most sensitive to human impacts and climatic change. Reefs
are primarily a habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals.
They flourish when the surrounding water is relatively nutrient poor, largely
because they can utilise nutrients very effectively. Their species diversity is rivaled
only by tropical rainforests. Reef inhabitants include many types of
algae, several invertebrates such as hard and soft coral, anemones, sponges and
many species of arthropods such as lobster, crabs and shrimps not to mention the
multitude of fish which rely on this unique habitat for feeding, breeding and
sleeping.
Sadly however the world's reefs are under threat everyday from human activities
such as coastal development, irresponsible tourism, over-fishing and land-based
sources of pollution. According to World Bank and UNEP statistics up to 38% of
the African coastline is considered to be at risk from developments which,
include cities, ports, road-networks and pipelines, this figure increases to a
staggering 82% in Indonesia where illegal "blast fishing" is practised.
UNEP's Executive Director, Mr Klaus Toepfer, refered to the coral reefs as
" the ecosystem equivalent of the canary in the coal mine, giving early
warning that the world's ecosystems can no longer cope with growing human
impacts."
Environmental conditions such as climate change, increasing ocean temperatures
and ozone degradation also have their part to play in the demise of the coral
reefs. According to the UNEP-WCMC World Atlas of Coral Reefs; the most detailed
assessment ever of the status and distribution of the world's coral reefs, the
"El Nino" phenomenon experienced in early 1998 resulted in the
unprecedented bleaching and consequent loss of 90% of the corals in some parts
of the Indian Ocean, representing five percent of the worlds reef area.
In recognition of these shocking statistics and in support of 2002 being
officially declared the International Year of Ecotourism, Buccaneer Diving
School, Mombasa has created Mombasa's first artificial reef. Many artificial
reefs have been created around the world using a variety of materials, from
military tanks to naval ships. Over the years extensive research has been
carried out to monitor and quantify the success of these "artificial"
reefs and has resulted in the compilation of overwhelming conclusive evidence
which clearly illustrates that artificial reefs develop into thriving coral
communities, almost indistinguishable from their natural counterparts. One such
research project, supported by the National Geographic Society Committee for
Research and Exploration, is headed by marine biologist Professor Yehuda
Benayahu of the University of Tel Aviv, the ongoing project is studying how
coral reef communities around ten Red Sea wrecks serve as models of artificial
reefs. Professor Benayahu uses adjacent natural reefs in the area as controls
with which to compare the artificial reefs. The following quotes by Professor
Benayahu, extracted from the National Geographic News Website entitled:
Artificial Reefs: Trash to Treasure speak for themselves
" When a ship sinks it immediately becomes shelter for marine organisms,
such habitats provide new food sources, greater protection for juveniles and
more space for settlement. Space is at a premium in a coral reef environment and
the new habitat is utilised by fish very quickly"
So quickly in fact that Barracuda have been known to stake out their territory
on an artificial reef moments after the vessel has been scuttled. Coral, which
is composed of small and delicate polyps, develops more slowly. The encrusting
and reef building organisms such as algae, sponges, gorgonians and other benthic
organisms which produce the coral, require solid substrate to incorporate a reef
community, as stated previously surface area is the limiting factor due to the
fact that many areas of the sea bed consist entirely of vast expanses of sand
and mud. These benthic areas are vital in their own right but are not, however,
in short supply. Thus the deployment of an artificial structure onto the seabed
has an immediate effect, algae begins to grow, encrusting organisms, drifting as
planktonic larvae in the water column, secure themselves to every available
surface, sea turtles find protective sanctuary amongst protective overhangs and
pelagic fish soon associate to the vertical relief. The subsequent colonisation
into a functioning reef evolves over time, attracting permanent finfish and
invertebrate species, as well as larger pelagic and transient organisms such as
shark, amberjack, pompano and rays. It should also be noted that artificial
reefs enhance the development of rare coral species that are not often found in
natural reefs. In addition Coral Reefs both natural and artificial are taking on
an increasingly important role in supplying compounds for use in medicines. AZT,
a treatment for people with HIV infections is based on chemicals extracted from
a Caribbean reef sponge and more than half of all new cancer drug research
focuses on marine organisms.
It is hoped that past, present and future study of these reefs may not only help
to make the ocean a more sustainable resource for marine animals but that they
will ease the human pressures imposed on the natural reefs and historically
important wrecks from activities such as scuba diving and fishing. There is
conclusive evidence from other worldwide artificial reef projects that
recreational divers adapt quickly to such reefs often preferring them to the
natural reefs, generating increased foreign exchange revenue in the local
community and promoting positive publicity for the diving industry and indeed
eco-tourism as a whole.
Tourism is heavily dependant on the quality of the coastal environment
particularly in countries such as Kenya; coastal zone degradation therefore has
serious implications for the industry. It should also be highlighted that the
unmanaged growth of the tourism industry could have an equally detrimental
effect on the coastal environment and resources. Kenya markets itself as an
environmentally sustainable tourist destination, thus the presence of an
artificial reef within the Mombasa Marine Park will not only provide extensive
new habitat's for the myriad of endangered reef dwellers, a "blank
canvas" study for academics, renewed interest for scuba divers, protection
for other established valuable historic sites and increased revenue for the
tourism industry, it will more importantly allow the local community to give
something back to nature, before it is too late!