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Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 2:22 pm
by Matt Flynn
Territory’s Biggest Ever Artificial Reef - Biggest in World?
Fishing just got that much better with the largest ever reef sinking in the Territory undertaken in
Darwin Harbour today.
Fisheries Minister Kon Vatskalis said the Territory’s artificial reef system was now expanded
with the sinking of 600 by six metre long steel reinforced concrete culverts near Lee Point.
That is 3.6km of reef if laid end to end.
“Fishing is one of the most popular pastimes in the Territory and a huge tourist drawcard, and
the Henderson Labor Government is determined to do everything it can to keep making the
experience even better,” Mr Vatskalis said.
“This is why we continue to invest in our artificial reef system, because by expanding it we are
increasing the habitat for fish and improving the opportunity to land a big one.
“This latest addition to our reef system is by far the largest we have ever had, with the unused
ERA-donated concrete culverts being used to attract reef fish just off Lee Point.”
“The location for the largest ever artificial reef was selected as it is within reach of even small
boat anglers.”
Lee Point is located a very short distance from both the Buffalo Creek and Nightcliff Boat
Ramps. The NT Government has funded the transport of the culverts from where they were
manufactured in Winnellie and sinking at Lee Point.
Mr Vatskalis said the sinking of the culverts follow the scuttling earlier this year of a 22-metre
former fishing vessel and a decommissioned steel barge which was sunk off the Territory coast.
“Fenton Patches already is a proven hotspot where anglers encounter many fish species from
jewfish to billfish,” he said.
The NT Government announced earlier this year $1 million will be spent enhancing recreational
fishing experience for Territorians.
The funding will continue the fishing infrastructure program for new and upgraded facilities and
improved recreational fishing opportunities across the NT, including the scuttling of this latest
reef system.

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 3:36 pm
by AM
Wonder how long it will take to devise a way to net those culvets

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 4:18 pm
by max
Thats great Kon ,just waiting for some fisheries enforcement officers to be employed now :mrgreen:

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 4:52 pm
by nomad
So that's what they mean by culvert fishing? :bonk:

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 5:13 pm
by Sy
As an ERA employee I claim it as my own :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Once I get the GPS points of someone :roll:

Sy

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 6:43 pm
by fishfanatic
Not to be too cynical about it really makes me wonder what they are softening us up for? The boat registration perhaps? :mrgreen:
Or perhaps the government has gone all googly and soft and are doing all this for no expected reward? :wink: :)

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 6:50 pm
by shaggs
fishfanatic wrote:Not to be too cynical about it really makes me wonder what they are softening us up for? The boat registration perhaps? :mrgreen:
Or perhaps the government has gone all googly and soft and are doing all this for no expected reward? :wink: :)
Yes the mind boggles as to what we may have to pay as a sacrifice to our lord and masters for their seemingly unselfish contribution to our ever cost increasing pastime/hobby and need to put food on our table

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 7:49 pm
by Matt Flynn
Well, you have to hand it to them, NT Labor has done some good things for fishos, we are the envy of some states with the ongoing gill net bans and artificial reefs etc. You only have to look at the number of boats on the water now to see that people are turning to the NT as a place to live for lifestyle reasons.

The latter, of course, is a mixed blessing.

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:54 pm
by BarraBeast
All the projects put foward by the FFF team were accepted and payed for by fisheries. Its been pretty smooth sailing for me to get the approvals etc. Maybe since the first FFF effort by 2rods, Matt and myself really showed em up and started the ball rolling again? There was a long period of inactivity on this topic since the bottle washer etc went down.

The science behind expanding our artificals is that a critical mass is achieved where fish stocks actually increase, so its possible the reefs will generate more fish to compliment existing stocks. Thats a good thing.

However marine parks are on the horizon so maybe there is a catch or comprimise.

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:14 pm
by Matt Flynn
However marine parks are on the horizon so maybe there is a catch or comprimise.
You might have something there. The only thing mooted so far have been the federal park plans, which are offshore. I hope it stays that way!

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:52 pm
by troamaru
Wow thats huge! should be good once its all settled in!! :D

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 5:54 am
by Bullet
Matt Flynn wrote

"600 by six metre long steel reinforced concrete culverts "

No steel in them Matt, that why they had to give them away, they can't be used for road culverts. God bless the moron that ordered them, :bonk: I still don't know what they planned to use them for, something to do with the 800 man camp that never got built.

Our win anyway, should be awesome once established. 8)

:cheers: :mrgreen:

Re: Biggest artificial reef in world?

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 10:20 am
by nomad
There would have to be some type of reio in them or they would just break apart when lifted.
My guess is that they put the wrong size/type steel or wrong clearances or that the concrete failed testing. It would have been discovered during the testing procedures.
We did a large multi storey building a long time ago in Sydney and the concrete just failed testing at the 7 day mark but passed at the 28 day mark. There were some very nervous lads for 3 weeks (we would have had to demolish 3 floors if the 28 day test failed)
Wouldn’t like to be the company that cocked up the original construction of the culverts. ouch