In recent years we have seen a decline in the health of our local reefs due to the impact of climate change, storm damage and overfishing. Without intervention there is a potential that these natural wonders could be lost forever. Our objective was to create an alternative permanent environment for marine life to regenerate and to offset these damaging effects.

We used a novel approach to create a sustainable artificial reef system which is simple, inexpensive, and easily replicated. The artificial reef was created using thirty construction (cinder/breeze) blocks cemented together to form a pyramid. This allowed for maximum efficacy for marine life recruitment as well as being stable in shallow (10 ft. / 3 metres) waters. The reef was installed in a barren location directly off the beach.

Within months of installation, it became clear that the pyramids were naturally recruiting marine life extremely well. Each year more pyramids have been placed to create a natural reef corridor and expand GARP. Following more than ten years of work and survey assessment, GARP has a proven ‘proof of concept’ that works and could be used anywhere. By early 2021 a total of 25 pyramids had been installed.