Artificial reef takes shape off the coast of Galle

by Priyan de Silva

In a move to build an artificial reef to boost the breeding of marine life, the Ministry of Fisheries with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy dumped scrapped buses and fishing vessels into the ocean about three kilometres off the coast of Galle yesterday.

State Minister Kanchana Wijesekera who was at Galle harbour said that artificial reefs were formed off the Northern Coast a few weeks ago and the operation in Galle was the second phase of the project. 

The project was beneficial in many ways because the scrap and debris that cluttered most fishery harbours and vehicle graveyards of the Transport Board and Railways would  help build more breeding grounds for marine life. 

Wijesekera noted that in addition to the breeding of marine life, the artificial reefs will be a boon to tourism, while also preventing illegal bottom trawling.