According to reports, the Dutch island of Bonaire, located in the Andres Islands in the Caribbean Sea, has recently brought 3D printing technology to the Caribbean coast, which also indicates that a grand coral reef protection plan is being implemented in an orderly manner.
Bonaire is located in the western part of the Lesser Andres Islands in the Caribbean Sea and is administratively planned by the Netherlands. The southernmost part of the island is 80 kilometers from the northern shore of Venezuela, with a hot and dry climate and a large number of birds on the island, known as the "Flamingo Island". The main socio-economic dependence is on a large amount of salt exports and tourism, and coral reefs are one of the important components of Bonaire. Coral reef collection was made illegal in 1975. In 1979, the entire coral reef surrounding Bonnet's ear canal was declared a world underwater park, and since then all kinds of exotic species of the surrounding seabed have been thoroughly protected, and Bonaire has won high praise from natural environmental protectors around the world, known as the "diver's mecca" in the Caribbean.
The coral reefs of Bonaire are an extremely diverse ecosystem that, in addition to being ornamental, plays an extremely important role in the protection and maintenance of seabed biological diversity along the island's coast. However, they are also in an extremely dangerous environment due to increasing hazards, such as marine pollution, climate variability and disease.
On Bonaire, local tourism practitioners and residents consult marine environmental protection specialist Fabien Cousteau for advice. And the advice he gave is to protect the biome ecosystem under this blue wave by 3D printing.
In response, Project Leader Eric Ewoldt explains: "We are delighted to be able to tackle this serious marine problem with advanced science and technology and to set an example for other areas of coral conservation in the Caribbean and around the world. We know that the way 3D printing works in Monaco and in the southern Gulf states of the United States. With the development of our marine R&D center, now is the perfect time to apply 3D printing technology to coral conservation in Bonaire! ”
3D printed organic reefs bring true metamorphosis
"Additive manufacturing" has long been proposed as a technique to rescue and protect coral reefs. Cousteau's plan is to create organic artificial reefs of the same shape and texture specifically for the types off the coast of Caribbean islands through 3D printing technology.
In order to attract different species to the reef to thrive, organic artificial coral reefs will have almost the same chemical composition as real coral reefs. Many species depend on coral reefs for conservation, such as many fish, algae, shrimp and crabs and hydra.
"As one of the key factors attracting tourists and divers to Bonaire, 3D printed organic reefs can bring real growth and reproduction to the original reefs, resulting in real change and protection." Cousteau told the Caribbean Daily. "3D printing organic reefs can save a lot of labor for the current labor-intensive coral reef protection and reshaping process, have a significant impact, and greatly improve efficiency."
At present, the 3D printing organic coral reef project has been gradually planned to be implemented in the local marine research and development center, and the specific implementation location of the organic artificial coral reef has not yet been determined. Can 3D printing technology bring qualitative changes to the conservation process of coral reefs? I believe that the answer will be given after the project officially begins to be implemented in the near future.
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