SCHOOL students have used their engineering skills to help create some of the modules that will be used to construct a new fishing hot spot about 7km offshore from Ocean Reef.
The State Government’s $1 million artificial reef project now has all the environmental approvals required and is scheduled for installation early next year.
About 20 students from schools across Perth taking part in the Future Engineers STEM program for high school girls in years 8 to 12 worked with contractor Subcon Blue Solutions to cast some of the modules that will form the reef.
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READ NOWTo be installed at a depth of 27m, the reef will consist of 292 low relief concrete modules ranging in size from 0.7m to 1.8m, and span an area of 150,000sqm.
The modules have been designed to attract multiple fish species including yellowtail kingfish, Samson fish, silver trevally and pink snapper.
“It is exciting to see our next generation of engineers and scientists taking the opportunity to get involved in the artificial reef project,” Fisheries Minister Peter Tinley said.
“Artificial reefs are a fantastic addition to our marine environment and provide recreational fishers and divers with new and unique fishing and diving experiences without having to travel long distances
“We have worked closely with Recfishwest on the location and design of the reef to maximise the benefits to those living in our rapidly expanding northern suburbs and to attract more visitors to utilise the reef area.”
This will be the seventh purpose-built artificial reef to be installed in WA in the past eight years.
Other reefs are already located off Dunsborough, Bunbury, Mandurah, south of Rottnest Island, Esperance and in Exmouth Gulf.
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