After the success of the first Artificial Reef Design competition in Kiabu last year, the event returned in August, this time held in Telaga Village, where the Marine Conservation team currently resides.
The design competition is part of KELAUT (Nature and Marine Class), an initiative aimed at providing education to schoolchildren about ecosystems and conservation efforts.
29 middle school students from SMPN 3 Telaga participated in the competition. They were divided into five groups and given tools and kits, such as wooden sticks, plasticine, and glue, to design and create artificial reef models.
Before they began working on their own creations, we gave a presentation on the benefits of artificial reefs and how to construct them using eco-friendly materials that can withstand extreme underwater conditions and serve as shelter for sea creatures.
The five groups had two weeks to devise a design and build a model using the provided tools and materials. On the final day, participants presented their creations to the Anambas Foundation team at the school.
Two winners were chosen: first place went to the group that created a hexagonal-shaped artificial reef structure, and second place went to the group that built a garden reef model. The winners expressed hope that their designs could be turned into real-life artificial reef structures to help restore the surrounding coral reef ecosystems.