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Tyre removal project, Eel Gardens, Dahab, Egypt.

Posted by juergen under Tyre removal project Dahab - Eel Garden

Project Co-ordinators – Jonty Laycock and Douglas Biggs.
Staff – Sarah Fryirs, Dr Nichola Fletcher and Juergen Donauer
Report written by – Dr. Nichola Fletcher
Photographs provided by Rich Carey, Juergen Donauer and Leeann Hughes
Video provided by Clive Hanna

1. Background:

Numerous investigative studies have been done on the effectiveness of tyres as artificial reefs (Aleksandrov et al, 2002; Collins et al, 2002) with tyre reefs in North America, the Carribean, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia this is a popular material for marine use.  Tyres are a popular material for reef building due to their readily available nature and lack of suitable large scale disposal methods.  Tyres contain a wide range of chemical components including natural rubber, synthetic polymers, oil, zinc to name but a few.  A study by Collins et al, (1994) showed the main heavy metal that leaches from tyres is zinc, similarly in a subsequent study by Collins et al, (2002) hydroids sampled from tyre surfaces showed increased levels of zinc within their tissues. Several studies have measured the effectiveness of tyre based reefs on the presence of fish populations (Markevich, 2005), showing that fish biomass increases with artificial reef structures.  However, a report by Chou (1994) states that unless an artificial reef is properly planned and managed it can become more of pollutant than a benefit for marine life.  A prime example of this is in Florida where tyres were placed near a beach in Fort Lauderdale, however the moorings holding the tyres in place broke causing damage to a nearby natural reef, it has also been stated that the artifical reef became unhabitable with few organisms being able to live long term on the tyres (Fleshler, 2003).

Eighty six tyres, ranging from bike to tractor tyres were observed on and in the immediate vicinity of the reef at Eel Garden dive site, Dahab, Egypt (figure 1).  These tyres were dumped by unknown persons onto the reef with no intention to plan an artificial reef and subsequently would become a hazard for the surrounding reef.  The aim project was designed to remove and safely dispose of these tyres.

2.    Methodology:

2.1. Preliminary surveys
Initial surveys were carried out by Red Sea Research staff and volunteers to assess the number and exact location of these tyres, and design a safe plan for removal with minimal impact to the reef and maximum safety of the divers and support staff..

2.2.  Tyre collection
Over a 4 week period numerous dives were undertaken on the Eel Garden dive site to remove the tyres from the reef and collect them together on a suitable substrate for extraction.  A total of 86 tyres were collected and moved onto a sand area approximately 25m from the reef edge.  All tyres were examined for living organisms.  Small amounts of coral growth were observed on 3 of the tyres, and were transplanted onto the nearby reef (figure 2).

2.3  Coral removal
Small amounts of coral was identified on 3 of the tyres.  Removal of these organisms off the tyre surface was done using a scalpel blade by a diver wearing gloves to prevent direct contact with the skin.  The coral was lifted using a scraper (figure 3) and placed on a board for removal to the reef.  A suitable location was found on the reef by evidence of the same species growing in the vicinity to ensure the correct positioning for light, wave exposure etc.  The coral was then placed upon a bare area and held in position by wooden pegs until it could establish its own hold.

2.4.  Tyre extraction
Tyres were all placed in rows to allow for easy extraction (figure 4).  Two divers went into the water and placed a buoy line in the vicinity of the tyres.  With the loaned use of a dive boat from Sinai Divers, 14 volunteers, 2 camera men and boat crew moored next to the buoy line approximately 40m off the Eel Garden Reef.

Two individuals were positioned next to the buoy with pre-arranged signals to relay instructions between divers and boat support.  Two divers entered the water and descended to the tyres, using a hemp rope (15mm diameter) and a carabina clip they attached two tyres to the rope (figure 5 & 6) and indicated to the surface support that the tyres were attached and that they had retreated to a safe distance, this message was passed to the boat and the volunteers hauled the tyres to the surface.  With additional assistance the tyres were lifted onto the boat and placed on the bow (figure 7 & 8).  Instruction was then passed down to the divers to pull the rope using a secondary line back to the sea floor.  This method was repeated, and divers replaced as required until all tyres had been removed from the water and collected onto the boat (figure 9).

The tyres were subsequently transported back to the port and collected by lorry arranged by the South Sinai Marine Protectorate for tranportation to a recycling facility in El Tor.

3.  Results:

All tyres were successfully removed and coral will be observed over time to assess whether transplantation was successful.

3.1  Observations.

Upon tyre removal onto the boat an on-board scientist (James Thomson) observed that several organisms had inhabited the tyres whilst they were submerged however all were dead, suggesting that although the tyres could be adhered to they did not provide a suitable long term habitat.

4.  Acknowledgements.

Red Sea Research staff would like to thank all volunteers as listed below for their assistance throughout preliminary surveys and the tyre removal.

Divers; Barry Mitchell, Neil Devani, James Thomson, Johan Koops and Chris.
Support crew;  Carmen Tromballa, Leeann Hughes, Justin Williams, Paul and James Hackney
Photographers and videographers;  Clive Hanna, Rich Carey, Julian Turner, Juergen Donauer, Peter Denk and Uwe Zapf.

A very special thanks goes to Paul Hackney and his son James, that were in Dahab just for holidays but donated one of their days to make the Red Sea a little bit cleaner.  Also to Julian, Sarah and Nicolas Gronier for planning assistance.

Red Sea Research would like to thank South Sinai Marine Protectorate for supplying permits, support, transportation and arranging disposal of the tyres.  Sinai Divers for the use of their boat (Gazalla 6) and also to the captain (Ahmed) and crew. Also, our thanks go out to Fantasea, Fantaseatec, Blue Realm, Club Red, Orca dive club, Dahab Divers and Sinai Divers for providing tanks throughout this project.

Video by Clive Hanna

5.  References;

Chou L.M.  (1994).  Artificial reefs of South East Asia -  Do they enhance or degrade the marine environment.  Environmental monitoring and assessment 44: 45-52.

Collins, K. J., Jensen, A. C., Lockwood, A. P. M., & Lockwood, S. J. 1994. Coastal structures, waste materials and fishery enhancement. Bulletin of Marine Science, 55: 1253–1264.

Collins K.J., Jensen A.C., Mallinson J.J., Roenelle V. & Smith I.P.  (2002).  Environmental impact assessment of a scrap tyre artificial reef.  ICES Journal of Marine Science 59: S243-S249.

Fleshler D.  2003.  State atttempts to clean up after failed artificial reef.  Icthyology at the Florida museum of Natural History.

Markevich A.  (2005).  Dynamics of fish colonization of an experimental artificial reef in Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan.  Russian Journal of Marine Biology 31 (4): 221-224.

Russell, B.C.  (2005).  The development and dynamics of a small artificial reef community.  Helgoland Marine Research 27 (3): 14383.