Decades of Solutions
This is a quick overview of some of our project highlights. Living Shoreline Solutions Inc. (LSSI) holds U.S. and International patents on its leading-edge technologies. We have not stopped innovating. To clear up any confusion, we were originally Artificial Reefs Inc. & Coastal Restoration Inc. We are the same company, still pioneering some of the most notable advances in our industry year after year. The entries below represent only a small portion of our history and some entries are edited for brevity & clarity. Feel free to contact us, we can provide a great deal more detailed data & research. Thank you for your interest.
Jul 2023
ENR Southeast Article
Blockbuster Breakwater: Alternative Construction Method Put to the Test in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay news reporters trekked to the Sunshine Skyway bridge for a Florida Dept. of Transportation press conference that would explain the mystery behind the hundreds of curiously shaped concrete structures lining nearly the entire length of the span’s mile-plus-long south fishing pier access road…
Feb 2023
Large Pyramids next to the Skyway?
BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) — You might have noticed large, white concrete pyramids sitting along the southern end of the Skyway, near the fishing pier. They are called wave attenuation devices, or WADs. The WADs are part of an FDOT project to help prevent erosion along the shoreline. They will be placed in the water, partially submerged, about 200 feet from the shoreline. There will be two rows of them in a few different locations at the southern end of the bridge.
They work by reducing the energy and momentum of large waves as they travel over and through the structure. There is then far less wave energy reaching the shore, doing much less damage. Along with providing erosion protection, there are several secondary benefits. These structures will provide a habitat for oyster growth, new reefs to grow, and hiding areas for fish. They will also promote the growth of seagrass on the shoreward side of the structures as a result of the protection.
Sergio Figueoa, a project manager with FDOT, said the erosion protection with be immediate and they expect to see seagrass growth and reef habitat benefits within six months to a year. They will only be partially submerged meaning you will see them in the water. There will be signs posted to warn boaters but they estimate the top of the pyramid will stick out of the water about three feet. FDOT said they chose this area because it was a good candidate to promote seagrass growth, but also to protect the newly reconstructed Manatee County Resting area and the seawall. FDOT is looking at adding these structures to other areas in the state for their ecosystem benefits.
by: Amanda Holly Posted: Feb 28, 2023 / 12:01 PM EST
Jan 2023
Audubon Florida (Update)
Audubon Florida and Living Shoreline Solutions (LSSI) team together to protect local critical wildlife coastline from erosion. At the mouth of the Alafia River, which hosts the largest population of nesting water birds outside the everglades. Tampa Bay’s colonial water birds like roseate spoonbills, reddish egrets, tricolored herons, little blue herons and brown pelicans nest at Sunken Island. To make the area more resilient to climate change, Audubon Florida constructed a living shoreline. The marine-safe concrete devices are six-feet-tall, weigh about 9,000 pounds each, and stretch around the islands for more than a mile.The success you can see.Protecting, and Enhancing Florida’s Water Bird Habitats & Everglades.
Jul 2021
Saco Bay Maine
Good news that the Governor of Maine has signed into law state support in negotiations with Army Corps.
Dec 2020
Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (Update)
This Drone footage was taken post-Hurricane Delta along the critical shoreline habitat of Chenier au Tigre, La. You can see the severe damage to the south of LSSI’s WAD® array, the striations and the broken shoreline have severely damaged the ecosystem. The protection the WAD® array afforded the shoreline is unparalleled. LSSI will be continuing on to Phase 2 of the project with an additional 8,000 LF of shoreline to the south end set for early 2021.The success you can see.Protecting, and Enhancing Louisiana’s Oyster Habitats & Marshlands.
Nov 2020
Sovereign Consulting Inc. WAD® Breakwater at Seagrass Plantation, Dagsboro, Delaware
Documented reversing erosion, naturally rebuilding of the shoreline and excellent Oyster Productivity.
May 2019
Audubon’s Sunken Island & Bird Island Sanctuary (Phase 3)
LSSI now in Phase 3 of this extremely successful partnership with Audubon of Florida. LSSI confirmed bottom conditions and modeling results of an additional ~5,000 linear feet of 5’ tall WAD®s that will extend east of the earlier phases west and northern end of the project site. We can’t thank Cypress Gulf Development Corporation enough for site preparation, WAD® manufacturing, and deployment at Sunken and Bird Islands Projects. The Cypress crews were great and their pride & professionalism were apparent at every phase of this project. 
Cypress in Action…Apr 2019
United States Coast Guard Academy
LSSI is enjoying working with an engineering project team of Seniors at the United States Coast Guard Academy on their (WAD® & Rip Rap) engineering recommendations for wave energy impacts on the Humboldt, Bay Coast Guard Station in Northern California.
Mar 2019
Max Brewer Bridge approach in Titusville, Florida.
LSSI has commenced its modeling effort for the Max Brewer Bridge. The current south side shoreline is concrete rubble. The rubble has been undermined and the desired, future ecological condition, is a sandy beach with 30-50% seagrass coverage;
Incorporating the WAD®s complemented with seagrass will significantly improve the shoreline. Furthermore, fish and wildlife will now have a sandy beach for life cycle functions (for horseshoe crab breeding and birds).
The WAD® array will be the long-term ecological and shoreline stabilization approach. The WAD® layout will include gaps to allow for boat and jet ski traffic ingress/egress.
Mar 2018
Ducks Unlimited & Conoco Phillip – Lost Lake Project
This was a massive project that spans a total of 10,000 linear feet of marshland (Migratory Habitat) restoration. Ducks Unlimited was committed to saving this habitat that has been eroding away at several acres an hour across the region. The WAD®s provide the means to protect and restore the marshland as well as providing, essential fish habitat.
Lost Lake had experienced dramatic shoreline erosion due to wind induced wave action. Portions of the lake have experienced an erosion rate of greater than 20 feet per year. Since 2015, the WAD®s have reduced wave action, lessened shoreline erosion, protected/enhanced shallow water habitats and interior marsh, and provided greater resilience during storm events.
Huge, nutrient-rich, physical marshland and habitat sanctuary have been not only been reclaimed but grown… See the video below.
The amount of accretion as well as the change and growth of a lower contour shoreline exceeded everyone’s expectations.
The Marsh is Regrowing!
This project was accomplished thanks to a partnership that included Ducks Unlimited, ConocoPhillips, and Living Shoreline Solutions Inc.
Mar 2018
Bayou Caddy Shoreline Stabilization Project – Mississippi
Begun in Jan 2016, this project is located on the Gulf Coast of Hancock County, Mississippi, and involved the modeling, manufacturing, and installation of 500, site-specific WAD®s standing 6.5 feet tall and weighing over 8,000 pounds. The WAD® arrays were placed 300 feet out and parallel to shore in five, 300 feet long WAD® breakwaters. This was the first WAD® project installed in Mississippi.
Marine-grade bioengineered concrete wave attenuation devices WADs® provided protection to dissipate wave energy, and still allow water to flush in and out of the ecosystem. In addition to the breakwater structure also had an ecological benefit with an increased fish habitat.
“It’s not something that has been done a lot, [but] it’s something that I hope to see more of moving forward,” said Black. “Traditional rock and concrete bulkheads can have environmental impacts. So we are really hoping to achieve the protection we want [with this project], while still maintaining the environment.”
According to Rees “Upon completion, the project will not only improve the resiliency of the coast, it will also help the ecosystem in the wetlands flourish.”
– Susan Rees, Coastal Resiliency Program Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District & Joe Black, Civil Engineer USACE
Apr 2017
Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (Update)
In late 2013, after 2 years of very competitive, engineering and design competition against dozens of companies, LSSI was 1 of 4 companies selected to build and install its Wave Attenuation Device (WAD®) system in the most challenging weather and geotechnical conditions in the swamps of Louisiana.
The challenge for Living Shoreline Solutions Inc. (LSSI) was to design a “free-standing” WAD® system that would not disappear in the 15 feet deep soft peat bottom where every other previous attempt by other companies had. LSS engineered a 9.5 foot tall WAD® (13,500 lbs) with a sacrificial bottom that had a water load factor of less than 150 PSF. This would allow WAD® to settle into the sediment to a level of 1.5 ft above MHHW and still protect the marsh.
Three years later, the WAD®s had only settled into 2.5 ft above MHHW and the marsh was protected from erosion with evidence of natural accretion shoreward of the WAD® array.
The project has been so successful, LSSI will be manufacturing and installing close to 6,000 additional linear feet of shoreline protection and oyster habitat in Bay Elon in St. Bernard’s Parish, Louisiana.
Mar 2016
Ducks Unlimited & Conoco Phillip – Lost Lake Project
Ducks Unlimited recently (Feb 2016) visited the Lost Lake Project Site which was sponsored by Conoco Phillip for Migratory Wildlife Habitat Protection & Restoration. This particular WAD® array (over 1,500 linear feet for phase one of a permitted, 10,000 linear feet) was installed in Spring 2015.
Look at the growth since then (see image below).
Notice the accretion as well as the change and growth of a lower contour shoreline which use to be a 4’ scarp.
LSS has just received preliminary notice of the effectiveness of our designed WAD® system for Ducks Unlimited at Lost Lake, LA.
DU engineers surveyed the site and the results are phenomenal for 10 months of data. Louisiana is losing a “football field an hour” of shore and marshland.
Ducks Unlimited Inc., Project Engineer: Joe Fifer PE, “In one year the WAD®’s have trapped over 2,500 CY worth of material. On average the new material ranges from 0.5’ to 1’ thick, with the highest areas closest to the WAD®’s being around 1.5’ thick.
The material is very organic and fluid, which is what we expected with no direct source of granular river sediment. The combination of high water we’ve had this year, early SAV growth after construction, and the ability of the WAD®’s to trap floating vegetation all contributed to the success.”
The Marsh is Regrowing!
Jul 2016
Delaware City Refinery Project
Living Shoreline Solutions Inc. will be installing 1,446 linear feet of “DCRC WAD®s”. The corrugated WAD® system will be utilized, alternating with the smooth-surfaced WAD® for increased wave energy attenuation and productive substrate for marine biomass development.
This project was designed for infrastructure protection of the refinery and its pipelines, as well as increased security and essential fish habitat.
After 10 months, the client was extremely pleased with the WAD® arrays preventing further erosion to the site infrastructure. Even more pleasing was the natural accretion and restoration of the shoreline. The natural restoration has eliminated a severe scarp over several feet tall and allowed the native vegetation to take hold and expand down the shoreline.
Jan 2016
WADs® in Cape Charles, Virginia (Update)
”Natural attenuation (passive accretion) at work”. This is sediment that is carried in the water column that would normally be lost to the Bay. Energy attenuation, as exemplified here, is a tangible expression of resilience.
Over a three year period, despite Super Storm Sandy and several Northeasters, the WAD®s have caused over 1800 cubic yards of sand to naturally accrete behind the WAD®s and naturally rebuild the shoreline and beach.
May 2016
Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
LSSI, in cooperation with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CWPRA), LA Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), and Coast & Harbor Engineering has been a great success.
Sep 2015
Ducks Unlimited & Conoco Phillip – Phase 1
Phase 1 Deployment of WAD®s at Lost Lake Louisiana. Although taken at different altitudes and angles, after only 4 months, notice the contour of the shoreline of the marsh, water clarity, and absence of any SAV (Submerged Aquatic Vegetation). There has also been a substantial growth of SAV and natural marshland restoration.
Phase 1 WAD®s Deployment (Note: The red line along the shore represents a very approximate, previous contour which only an accurate survey will determine and is scheduled in the near future.)
Apr 2015
Ducks Unlimited & Conoco Phillip – Lost Lake Project
Finally on our way. After some severe weather delays, the spud barge and materials barge are being pushed down the Louisiana InterCoastal waterway. Deployment for the Ducks Unlimited & ConocoPhillips marshlands restoration at Lost Lake will begin first light tomorrow.
Initial WADs® Deployment – Living Shoreline Solutions.
Dec 2014
WAD®s in Cape Charles, Virginia – Chesapeake Bay
In September 2012 LSS deployed prior to Super storm Sandy at Cape Charles, VA. The picture below was taken this week, just over two years later following natural beach restoration through natural accretion, compliments of the site-specific WAD® system designed and installed for this project.
Over 14,000 cubic yards of accretion (new beach) and significant production Of SAV (Sub-aquatic-vegetation) even after Hurricane Sandy
Homeowners in the area paid three times as much for their rock walls in the distance than the WAD®, (Wave Attenuation Device) Array.
Jun 2014
Florida Audubon Alafia Banks Sanctuary
Phase Two of Audubon’s Sunken Island WAD® deployment gets underway on June 17th in Tampa Bay. Over two thousand additional WAD®s will extend the shoreline protection from Phase One by adding another 5,000+ linear feet of the double WAD® arrays. Additionally, the gaps in Phase One will be filled with WAD®s completing the full restoration of both Bird and Sunken Islands for the Audubon Society.
Progress continues to be spectacular.
Audubon of Florida Alafia Banks Sanctuary
Nov 2013
Louisiana’s Coastal Wetlands Planning, Oyster WAD®
Living Shoreline Solutions Inc. (LSSI) was 1 of 4 companies selected and awarded the highly competitive, Non-Rock Alternative Shoreline Protection Project for Shark Island Louisiana. This project will assist in new and innovative ways to protect and restore Louisiana’s severely eroding wetlands. LSSI has modeled and designed a site-specific WAD® system that will effectively deal with the erosion and settlement issues due to poor bottom sediment conditions, which most systems disappear into within 3-5 years.
Only 3 MONTHS after our WAD system was in place.
This is an aerial view of the Oyster WAD® array off Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. Notice the natural accretion that has taken place shoreward of the WAD® array all the way to the shoreline.
Feb 2013
Sandos Resort South of Cancun, Mexico
In 2007, Hurricane Dean caused extensive damage along the coast of Riviera Maya, exceptionally large mass of wind-transported sand was deposited on the beachfront and gardens of the former NH Hotel in Puerto Morelos.
Due to the chaotic sea state and the debris carried by the storm, the sand was contaminated with various pollutants, including terrigenous materials and biogenic matter. Given the high probability of future storms of such magnitude, it was decided that some form of sediment transport control was needed to protect the beach so an artificial reef was constructed 120′ offshore;Five years after the placement of the structure the beach front, which had previously registered erosion problems, had returned to its natural cycle of summer growth and winter retreat and a large number of fish and coral species were using the habitat provided by the structure.– Rodolfo Silva, UNAM Institute of Engineering PhD, Journal of Coastal Research,
Jul 2012
Florida Audubon Alafia Banks Sanctuary
Living Shorelines Solutions Inc. and Cypress Gulf Development to install an additional 5,000 feet – nearly a mile! – of additional living shoreline along with both Bird and Sunken Islands, bringing the total area of protected coastline to over 6,000 linear feet. Set in 500-foot sections separated by 12-foot gaps for marine animal access, the breakwater allows water to flow through to the shallow, quiet water lagoon.
By June/July 2012 (9 mo. post installation) even after Tropical Storm Debby (65 mph winds & ± 10 in. of rain) had hit the area, the habitat was completely protected and restored to levels of shoreline not seen since 1995.
Audubon of Florida Alafia Banks Sanctuary
Nov 2011
Tampa Bay Watershed Restoration
Living Shorelines Solution Inc.’s (LSSI) project has begun; aimed at halting erosion by blocking and redistributing the wave action is being completed around the northern face of the oblong island. The “wave break” consists of eight arrays of large, pyramid-shaped concrete “wave attenuation devices” (WAD®s) installed in corner-to-corner sections just offshore;
Creating a settled offshore reef both calming wave action and enhancing the food chain. LSS installed 16 such systems in water bodies around the world and “not one of them has failed…”
The acid-neutral concrete structures are hollow with perforations on the slanted sides that allow small fish and crustaceans to enter or pass through and encourage oysters, barnacles, or other marine life to attach, thereby creating a sea life nursery in much the same way naturally-growing mangrove roots and seagrasses do.
Pyramids facing the shipping channel also are horizontally grooved on their outward flat sides to further interrupt and redistribute the energy of ship-wake or storm-driven waves slapping them.
Melody Jameson,
The Observer News. South Hillsborough County, Florida. Project Audubon’s Bird Sanctuary, Tampa Bay Watershed Restoration
Jul 2011
Technological & Environmental Management Network
Technological & Environmental Management Network, Ltd. (TEMN) provides comprehensive consulting services in the field of environmental management. We were tasked with the monitoring of the Negril Beach Villa, Cocoplum Developments project, designed to prevent further erosion, as no donor sand source had been identified during the site survey. Extensive beach profiling was performed at the 21-week, 44-week, and 82-week timeframe post-deployment. The dynamic effect of the WAD® array was immediately evident. Not only was erosion arrested, at 39-days post-placement of the WAD® array there was an average of 15-meters of newly accreted beach along the shoreline of the Villa. Over the course of those 82 weeks, a minimum of 23-meters of stabilized beach accreted along the 122-meters of a property line; equivalent to more than 14,000 cubic meters of sand deposition.Dramatic positive changes in beach profiles and the tremendous amount of sand accretion and the stabilization of the beach to its original profile. The WAD®s’ results were exceptional and, as in the past projects, performed best in severe weather with protection during tropical storms and hurricanes, while the rest of Negril’s Beaches suffered severe erosion. Negril Jamaica accretion of 14,000 cubic meters in 2 years…Pierre Diaz B.Sc. Oceanographer, Technological & Environmental Management Network Ltd. (TEMN)
Dec 2009
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Artificial Reefs Inc., recently agreed to provide its scientifically designed Fish Haven® reef system for the relocation of some of the 150,000 corals that will be moved prior to the dredging of a large shipping channel for the new Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Terminal in Falmouth, Trelawney, Jamaica West Indies.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Mar 2007
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
In 2004, the Gulf of Mexico Foundation funded a community-based restoration project to protect and restore the eastern edge of the marsh through the use of wave attenuation devices (WAD®s). In March 2005, 182 wave attenuation devices were emplaced along the eastern perimeter of the marsh. These structures serve the dual roles of protecting the marsh from further erosion and providing habitat for a wide array of marine organisms.The benefits from the wave attenuation devices have been significant. The primary positive impacts from the project were that the structures stopped erosion of the marsh in the area where the WAD®s are installed.This is impressive in light of two major hurricanes since their installation. Second, there has been sediment accretion due to the WAD®s. The buildup of sediment is clearly visible during low tides and approximately 6 inches has been laid down between the WAD®s and the marsh edge. As a customer, I have been extremely satisfied with the performance of the WAD®s. I hope you have time to visit and see for yourself how they are performing. – LaDon Swann, PhD Director, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
Jan 2004
United Sates Dept. of the Interior
The Florida Gulf Coastal Program is dependent upon myriad partners to attain such goals as preservation, enhancement, and/or restoration of our important coastal habitats. These habitats are of critical value to literally hundreds of aquatic, bird, and mammal species.
Your organization exhibited a wonderful degree of professionalism and were an important component of our field team. Recent inspection of the wave attenuation devices indicates that at they are indeed accomplishing what they were engineered to do…
– Michael Brim, Coordinator
DOE, Florida Gulf Coastal Program
Oct 2004
Horsehead Shoreline & Shallow Water Habitat Restoration Project
Contracted to protect the current failing nesting area for the Northern Diamondback Terrapin. The existing nesting area suffered from heavy predation. The existing bulkhead was no longer adequately protecting the shoreline from erosion and was excluding a large area that would have traditionally been prime turtle nesting habitat. The WAD®s achieved our goals of providing aquatic habitat, shoreline restoration, and dampening wave energy.In September of 2003, Tropical Storm Isabel slammed the Grasonville area with winds of 50+ miles/hour and an 8-foot storm surge. Since the tops of the WAD®s are visible at MLW we are able to see that there was little to no movement of the Fish Havens during this very significant tropical storm.– Kevin Smith, Maryland Department Natural Resources
Jul 2003
Phase One of Project GreenShores
Living Shorelines Solutions Inc. (LSSI) was contracted in the spring of 2003 to resolve shoreline destabilization issues with the eastern edge of the newly created project area being eroded away. The team designed the GreenShores “Coastal” Haven®, engineered for its wave attenuation capabilities and its added benefits as a fully balanced, stable, durable, and productive marine life habitat.This project has restored the bay front estuary to its historic habitat, stabilizing the shoreline and providing essential fish habitat and habitat for wildlife propagation and conservation. Project GreenShores is located along the northwest side of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in downtown Pensacola, Florida.– Florida Dept of Environmental Protection Project Greenshores
Jun 2003
Santa Rosa County, Taylor County & City of Carrabelle
In just 2 weeks, the Living Shoreline Solutions Inc. (LSSI) team deployed over 750, state-of-the-art, Fish Haven®, Artificial Reef Systems. Eighty-seven, separate scientifically designed patch reef systems were deployed all along the Gulf Coast, in water depths from 63 feet to 200 feet. For a third year, to design and place over 130 assorted Fish Haven artificial reefs modules in 4 large area patch reefs for the Sand Dollar Artificial Reef Complex.They are the only completely balanced complex artificial reef system, which can be tailored to specific reef restoration and marine life development objectives. Specifically engineered for stability, these units have consistently withstood high energy wave events including category 5 hurricanes without disruption to the habitat or the fully balanced ecosystem they support.– Florida Fish Wildlife Commission
May 2003
United States Naval Academy
Hydromechanics Laboratory at the United States Naval Academy, through the Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, performed physical model tests of the original prototype, Coastal Haven® Breakwater module. Coastal Haven® breakwaters attenuated wave energy most effectively in the double-row configuration, creating a larger berm closer to the shoreline.
…Results of the hydrodynamic tests and engineering analysis show that Coastal Haven breakwaters can be designed as very effective, stable, and durable breakwaters, given the specific hydrodynamic conditions at any geographical position.
– Professor R. Mayer, Ph.D., Professor J. Waters, Ph.D., P.E. Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Independent Research in Naval Engineering Final Report
Oct 2002
Organization for Artificial Reefs (OAR)
We are quite pleased with the “Total Package” of services Artificial Reefs, Inc (ARI is now Living Shoreline Solutions Inc.). provides and the quality of their Fish Haven® reef modules is unsurpassed. We are again working with ARI for the development of several sites for Taylor County and the Rose City Reef in Franklin County that we will be deploying shortly. We enthusiastically recommend and urge the further use of Artificial Reefs, Inc. products and services for future reef development and monitoring projects.ARI designed a reef system with long term species diversity, making our site very productive. The superior service and product gave us the most value for our grant dollars and backed up their reef system with a very professionally performed deployment.– Scott Vascavage. Organization for Artificial Reefs, Endorsement letter to Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Marine Fisheries & Bureau of Marine Fisheries Management
Summer 2000
City of Destin, Florida
The City of Destin had never had an artificial reef system designed for use in the past and Artificial Reefs, Inc. (now Living Shoreline Solutions Inc.) designed a very complex three-satellite reef system targeting species diversity, making our site very productive. They provided both a service and a product that we believe gave us the most value for our grant dollars. They backed up their reef system with a very professionally performed deployment and reef-monitoring service. We have been very impressed with the amount of biomass development in such a short period of time.We highly recommend their services and products for any reef development projects in the future, due to their commitment to a high-quality artificial reef system and their very professional service.– Thomas Volpe. President Charlotte Marine Research Team, Inc.
Jun 1999
City of Valparaiso
The experience was a pleasure. Their response to the request for bids was the most professional bid package for any product or service I’ve seen in 5½ years with the City of Valparaiso. It was correct in every detail and clearly laid out for easy review. They devised a patch reef configuration in accord with the Scope of Services using 71 Fish Havens® of various sizes individually and nested for complexity (they called it the Neptune Reef). The plan was clear, they carried it out with a high degree of professionalism as laid out in the plan, and they provided follow-up monitoring.The professionalism of the organization and the well-documented development of their Fish Haven units on the bottom have sold our team on the organization. I have been delighted with their products and services.– Michael Flynt City Administrator, Valparaiso Florida
Mar 1999
International Patent Application
Living Shoreline Solutions Inc. (formally Artificial Reefs Incorporated) professional, “state-of-the-art” reef development and coastal protection projects. We hold numerous intellectual property rights and U.S. & International Patent rights (US 6,186,702B1) (International Patent Application March 3, 1999 PCT Docket No# 4480)) These Firms have spent over a decade in the research and development of the World’s Only “Scientifically Engineered and Designed” artificial marine life habitat/wave attenuation device available, modeled from natural coastal protection and marine life habitat characteristics of the world’s barrier reef systems.
The modules were methodically designed to promote and accelerate rapid marine growth on all hard substrate surfaces, both inside the structure and out, and specifically engineered to act as wave attenuation devices to protect the world’s coastlines.For over 20 years we have been designing WAD®s that are optimized by their hydrodynamic design and cyclonic flow of micronutrient rich water produces an “up welling” of nutrient rich biomass, creating a food source for the feeding of baitfish and consequently, the larger pelagics. These characteristics also allow these units to attenuate damaging wave energy thus reducing possible shoreline beach erosion.
Mar 1999
Center for Marine Science, The University of Queensland
At the six-month, through one-year point, reports were compiled of recreational fish takes from the reefs. Additionally, numerous transects were taken of species diversity and fish counts/size estimates (per surface area) recorded at a distance of 15 meters from the reef units. Over the past 9 years, Livgin Shorleine Solutions LLC (formally Artificial Reefs Inc) has placed over 12,000 artificial reefs systems, performing numerous studies and observations, we have been able to establish a baseline, conservative, estimate on marine life productivity, based on the productive substrate of the Fish Haven® System.Our reseach shows the Biomass estimate number for every 5 square meters of productive substrate provided for in a designed artificial, Fish Haven® patch reef system, there will be, conservatively, a total of: 2.35 Metric TONS of marine biomass produced on an annual basis.– Rodney Garner, GCMarst Center for Marine Science, The University of Queensland
Apr 1998
Florida Institute of Technology
Wave Tank Model Tests for the Fish Haven® Attenuation Device. The Fish Haven® reef units never demonstrated any tendency for overturning. Units were found to be extremely stable in water depths of 50 to 100 feet under storm conditions of 20-year to 100-year intensity can be designed, fabricated, and deployed. The Florida Institute of Technology determined the Fish Haven® units will have excellent strength, durability, and longevity in the marine environment.
Extremely Stable in Water Depths of 50′ to 100′, Under Storm Conditions of 20-Year to 100-Year intensity…
– Lee Harris Ph.D. College of Engineering, Division of Marine and Environmental Systems