A pioneering underwater laboratory and, at the same time, an attractive diving destination, will be set up in offshore Amathus area of Limassol, in a joint effort by Cyprus Maritime and Maritime Institute – Center of Excellence (CMMI), the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, the University of Los Angeles California (UCLA), the Limassol Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Signalgenerix. The projects provides for the placement of smart 3D printed artificial reefs on the seabed in the protected marine area of Amathus.
CMMI CEO, Zacharias Siokouros, told us that in the underwater laboratory, scientists of various specialties will record and study the characteristics and behavior of the marine environment, the development of marine life, the movements and evolution of species, and even the sea currents in the area to investigate their interaction with marine structures, aiming to protect the marine environment and biodiversity as well as mitigate the consequences of climate change.
At the same time, according to Mr. Siokouros, the area will be available, accessible, and attractive for diving tourism, since it will be original, compared to everything else that has so far been used to create reefs. CMMI scientists call the reefs "smart" because they will be equipped with sensors and cameras to monitor parameters that affect marine life. One of the aims is the transfer of image to the land, so that visitors who cannot dive can also watch.
Underwater drones will be deployed for the purpose of surveillance and early detection of cases of illegal fishing. Scientists are also working on the construction of a large smart buoy, which will act as an information gathering station. The procedures for ordering a room-sized 3D printer, which will poduce the reefs with environment-friendly materials that and attractive to the organisms that will settle on them, are well under way. The material to feed the printer will be created by the University of Los Angeles, which specializes in materials science and technology. Zacharias Siokouros told us that the printer will arrive in 2023 and will be installed in Limassol to start printing test elements of the reefs, ahead of their systematic, full-scale production. The whole pilot program is fully funded by CMMI and if positive results are achieved, 3D printed reefs can be introduced to other marine protected areas.
