Installation underway of 15 acres of 3D-printed artificial reefs in coastal North Carolina
Several acres of 3D-printed artificial reefs are currently being planted in coastal North Carolina to bolster the region's biodiversity. Several acres of 3D-printed artificial reefs are currently being planted in coastal North Carolina to bolster the region's biodiversity and promote new growth of natural reef. The reefs, 3-foot concrete cubes called "Exoforms" that contain a lot of void space to allow marine life to thrive, are being planted in the Palmico River, a large estuary system on North Carolina's Atlantic Coast, Tad Schwendler, COO of environmental solutions firm Natrx, told ABC News. MORE: Hawaii's coral reefs are in peril. What researchers are doing to restore coral ecosystems and preserve biodiversity The roughness and irregularities of the structures leaves room for species at the bottom of the food chain, such as algae and other microorganisms, to grow, which then attract the larger species, Schwendler said. The 15-acre installation is part o...