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The expansion strategy of artificial fish reefs in Florida and the desire to stimulate artistic creation are brought together in the same project, in the so-called P anhandle of Florida, in Northwestern State
Seven large sculptures made with four approved "environmental" materials were selected for the inaugural exhibition of June 25, Melissa Wheeler, of the Alliance of Cultural Arts Walton County (CAA, explained to Efe). in English)
To these works, placed about 20 meters (60 feet) deep and in front of the state park of Grayton will add other rooms that will eventually become shelters marine life to stimulate fishing and tourism in the region.
The parties, Wheeler said, should be worked exclusively on "clean concrete, limestone, stainless steel and aluminum."
Hard Over the past two years, CAA and the South Walton Artificial Reefs Association (SWARA) have been striving to create the country's first permanent underwater museum to promote the development of the world's largest and most important seafarers. environment, art and, incidentally, the local economy
Since 2013, the environmental group has installed more than a dozen artificial reefs on the shores of Walton County, whose fruits begin to be observed in juvenile red, grouper and swordfish, as well as octopus and sea turtles
The new "artistic" reef has 2700 more in the 34 counties Florida coastal, created for various purposes, such as replenishing local populations of vertebrates and marine invertebrates, mitigating the loss of local habitat and promoting the observation of marine wildlife or fisheries.
In Walton, Andy McAlexander founded SWARA with the idea of increasing habitat for fish and oysters and boosting tourism with activities such as as diving, fishing and photographic underwater safaris.
In an area where the Gulf of Mexico's bed is 95% sterile sand, reefs have helped create these recreational options. ] Because South Walton has deep waters very close to the coast, artificial reefs are open for snorkeling, kayaking, fishing and swimming, without the need of any kind. arrive by boat.
A study of the University of Florida, the cost-benefit ratio of artificial reefs in parts of the northwest of this state was estimated at 131, "a value that indicates an extremely high efficiency and positive. "
The inaugural exhibition of the UMA, among other sculptures, with a pineapple, the artist Rachel Herring, an octopus of Allison Wickey and a deer of Justin Gaffrey, among others, all submerged after being tied to a pedestal of more than a ton of pe or where the limestone is embedded to attract the corals.
In addition, it includes a skull of a strange creature named SWARA and which will be in the center of the reef.
CAA Executive Director, Jennifer Steele, thanked the support and national and international interest that awakened the museum, which has already opened the appeal to artists interested in submitting works for the 2019 sample.
The CAA noted that there is no one-of-a-kind rule, but that at these depths one is working better big, big and heavy parts that do not need a lot of details.
"We want reefs to be a living educational resource," explains McAlexander
"We will use it to teach residents, visitors and children the variety of natural resources available," he said. he added.
On the other hand, he pointed out that "the perspective when you see the sculptures in a marine environment are radically different than when you are on earth. "
The founder of SWARA reports that, just after submerging the sculptures, he plunged himself into the sea and immediately confirmed that the purpose of the initiative had been accomplished" by seeing benches of bait fish invade the structures, fully validating all the effort. "EFE
ims / lce / dgp
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