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DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES News Release LINDA LINGLE GOVERNOR _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON
Phone: (808) 587-0401
Fax: (808) 587-0390
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For Immediate Release:
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HONOLULU — Approximately 70 concrete anchor blocks are being donated by the U.S. Coast Guard to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and will be added to the DLNR’s Maunalua Bay artificial reef between Monday through Wednesday July 10-12, weather permitting. “Artificial reefs are important resource enhancement opportunities. New coral and seaweed will grow on the blocks, which will provide additional habitat to new communities of reef fish,” said DLNR Chairperson Peter Young. “Artificial reefs increase potential fishing grounds for fishermen and, in this case, the cost to the State is minimal,” he said. The Coast Guard will be conducting a training session for its personnel aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Walnut as they transport the blocks to the reef by ship and deploy them in 80-90 feet of water. They will work a few days to complete the project. The Coast Guard uses these large concrete blocks, which measure four feet long, four feet wide and two feet high with an eye hook on top, to anchor its aids to navigation (such as channel marker buoys) to the sea floor. Prior to, and during the deployment of the anchor blocks, the target area is marked with surface floats to warn fishermen, boaters, and divers to stay clear of the reef site, for safety reasons. Maunalua Bay artificial reef is located one mile off of Kahala, O‘ahu and was created in 1961 by depositing large solid objects on the barren ocean floor to provide a habitat for marine animals. It covers approximately 74 acres and is popular with fishermen and divers, despite an occasionally strong current. This reef consists of 1,593 cars, 2,004 tons of concrete pipes, 2,278 tire modules, 5 barges, 40 truck tires, 300 table shelters, 9,890 “z”-modules, 1 military LCU and 6,150 tons of miscellaneous concrete pieces. For more information on DLNR’s artificial reef program contact Brian Kanenaka, DLNR-Aquatics, at 587-0332. # # #
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