""They're a fundamentally important part of the Caribbean and Floridian coral reef habitat," he says. Foord tends to more than 2,000 tiny soft coral specimens growing in several large saltwater tanks. In each one, snails and hermit crabs help keep it free of algae. There are sea fans, sea whips and other species, some of which will eventually grow as big as six feet tall when they're transplanted onto a major new project that's beginning to take shape in the Atlantic Ocean near Miami Beach."
"Within a few years, the underwater concrete sculpture garden will be transformed into a colorful, living coral reef. "It's only going to be in about 15 to 20 feet of water, about 700 feet off of Miami Beach," he says. "So, anybody with a mask and fins will be able to go right out there and see it with their own eyes without even a boat.""
Colin Foord cultivates over 2,000 gorgonian soft coral specimens in a warehouse nursery, using snails and hermit crabs to control algae. The nursery includes sea fans, sea whips and other species that can reach six feet before transplant. Reefline is planned as a seven-mile artificial reef made from marine-grade concrete sculptures stretching the length of Miami Beach about 700 feet offshore in roughly 15 to 20 feet of water. The project merges art, habitat restoration, and underwater tourism to create an accessible snorkeling destination. Ximena Caminos, an arts curator and cultural placemaker from Argentina, oversees the initiative.
Read at www.npr.org
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