1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project Set To Deploy New Environmentally Beneficial Artificial Reef Site In Hollywood, Florida On Tuesday November 1st

The Ocean Rescue Alliance (ORA) in partnership with the City of Hollywood’s Community Redevelopment Agency, is preparing to deploy its first 1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project site in Broward County off the coast of Hollywood Beach with 20 ocean-friendly artificial reef modules. The Hollywood site deployment on Tuesday November 1st will bring the total number of artificial reef structures deployed in the ocean off South Florida’s coast to 100 (with the first 80 being in Palm Beach County) since the project was originally conceived 5 years ago.

The 1000 Mermaids Project is a monumental public eco-art project in the form of an artificial reef installation that also serves as an underwater eco-friendly destination for coral restoration, eco-tourism & research. The artificial reef sculptures, weighing between 2200-3300 lbs each, come outfitted with the patented “Coral Lok” system allowing coral to be out-planted directly to the artificial reefs. These revolutionary reef sculptures will be placed just a few miles southeast of the Port Everglades Inlet, in an area where thousands of corals are required to be transplanted as part of ongoing port expansion projects. Thanks to ORA’s contributions to initiatives accelerating coral restoration efforts in Southeast Florida, this site is designed to become a recipient site for transplanted corals providing a variety of community-based, citizen science and educational opportunities. Of the 20 artificial reef structures being deployed, 5 feature artistic sculptures such as mermaids, a swim up selfie mermaid tail, and an industrial diver suit. The remaining 15 structures have biological bases specifically engineered to support fish habitat and provide coral restoration opportunities.