Plans For Artificial Reef - Gold Coast

Just found this link a few mins ago.. - http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/artificial-reef-plan-for-gold-coast/story-e6frfq80-1225818841541

If this happened, would it become like the GBR and be off limits to collecting? Or no change in rules? If there was a full blown reef wouldn't it mean there'd be a lot more of both numbers and variety in fish that are around?

That’s an interesting idea that they have.

There would be a few probs with it though and that is the sediment from the jumping bar and the south port seaway it self.

If they were to say build it some where from Currumbin to Kirra, than it could work a treat, but than there is already palm beach reef that offers spectacular diving and is open to all marine activities like spearing,collecting,fishing and so on.

The loss of Kirra reef to the sand pumped out from next to the tweed river that sweeps right across the areas from snapper rocks to Bilinga is a great lose to the coast as an amazing shallow dive site for all activities and if this new reef idea if done right, it could replace it well and truly.

The reefs off the south port seaway and there are three ribbon reefs out there more or less are disgusting in the amount of silt on them from the seaway and jumping pin bars so to put it any where near there would be foolish and a waste of money.

Another one near palm beach reef would be two in one spot and no reef compares to palm beach reef in life and beauty, from 7 to 20 metres in depth out there the invert life is staggering, the corals and anemones to name a few life forms has to be seen to be believed.

For sure they will regulate it some how, most likely make it a marine park or similar and if it is in the wrong spot than who cares as it will be a toilet anyway, compared to what it could be at the right depth and positioning.

As for life forms increased by a reef of this type, for the aquarium side of things it will not increase life for the area just a little more planktonic dispersal once some adults have taken hold there and with the east ausy current that runs just out of the beach along the coast,all the new eggs and larvae will be swept along to benefit reefs further south as the natural processes have always worked in this way.

Butterfly fish, clown fish,angelfish,gobbies,nearly all marine aquarium fish and inverts with the exception of banner fish and just a few others,do not move to other reefs, once the adults lay there eggs or larvae or eggs and sperm mix to create life in mid stream and once old enough while feeding on plankton in their transparent stage of life, they than leave the plankton as juveniles and find reefs by reef sounds or by accident, most all marine life never finds a reef home to start their life, they only find sand or great depths or unacceptable water conditions to find a start in life.

The other problems with it is that if not developed at the right depth than it will become a sand bar and than an island in time and that would cost many millions for a block of land out there,lol.