On May 31, 2021, the implementation plan for the creation of an artificial 3D-printed reef and the management of the Marine Protected Area in Amathus was signed between the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
The plan includes the stages for the study, design, research of materials, construction, installation and monitoring of the first artificial 3D-printed reef in Cyprus and one of the few in the Mediterranean as well as the management of the Marine Protected Area of Amathus.
The ultimate goal of the project is to promote and preserve the ecological and cultural uniqueness of Amathus. The implementation of the project will simultaneously achieve the protection of the marine environment and marine biodiversity, the promotion of scientific research, environmental education and public awareness. The project adopts innovations such as the construction with 3D printing of the structural elements of the reef, the use of ecological, environmentally friendly materials for the foundation, as well as the utilization of special technological equipment for data collection.
The artificial reef in the bay of Amathus is expected to act as a catalyst for the protection and enrichment of marine resources and biodiversity of the region, attracting the interest of the international scientific community in the field of marine biology, as well as the further development of diving tourism.
CMMI and DFMR will, among other things, undertake the joint use of the project for scientific, educational and training activities, as well as for maritime literacy and environmental awareness events.