Centro Ecological Akumal & Nova Southeastern Half Moon Bay Reef Ball Restoration Project

Restoration Project at Half Moon Bay CEA is supporting Nova Southeastern University and the Coral Reef Institute working in a project of restoration of the reef in Half Moon Bay. Reef Balls are made of a special, marine-friendly concrete and are designed to mimic natural reef systems. Reef Balls are created by pouring concrete into a fiberglass mold containing a central polyform buoy surrounded by various-sized inflatable balls to make holes. They are designed to create stable artificial reef modules, forming hiding places for fish and foundations for coral growth. Reef Balls are used primarily to restore ailing coral reefs but have also been placed in coastal areas around the world as submerged breakwater to help prevent beach erosion. They are also used to encourage coral reef recruitment following hurricanes and even to create artificial reefs off turtle nesting beaches to reduce the impact of trawling vessels on turtle populations.