From a report on Inquirer.net:

As a project to protect and rehabilitate the vast fishing grounds of Lamon Bay, Philippines, officials, environmentalists, fisherfolk and Rotarians have banded together to build a massive artificial reef, which they sank to the bottom of Lamon Bay on Tuesday, August 17, 2009.

This project is being hailed as the Philippines’ largest, man-made reef. The entire structure is about 4 meters high and 21 meters in diameter, and weighs approximately 85 tons. It is supported by hundreds of concrete balusters joined together in several sections.

Each of the different sections were first assembled on land. Steel bars were welded together to form a framework and a two-inch concrete slab in the shape of the official emblem of Rotary International, the world’s first and largest service club organization, was placed on top. The giant cog emblem with Rotary International emblazoned on it is painted with the official royal blue and gold colors.

Greg de Gracia, a local advocate of the Lamon Bay protection and rehabilitation efforts says that this is not only the Philippines largest man made reef, but it is also the largest Rotary International symbol in the world! De Gracia is a Rotarian, and is credited with developing the concept of building the giant reef with the Rotary emblem as model.

The article at Inquirer.net states:

“The artificial reef is a labor of love by all sectors of the community—local officials, civic groups and the fishermen themselves. Most of the fisherfolk volunteered to work for free,” Oscar Chua, past president of the Rotary Club of Atimonan and chair of the artificial reef project, told reporters.

The fisherfolk organization from the coastal villages of Balubad, Lubi, Talaba and Kilait (Baltak), which De Gracia heads, played a prominent role in the project.

This project is just one result of a long time concern of the local residents who are concerned about the health of their local ocean wildlife.

Read more at the Inquirer.net

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