Dates / Project duration
January 2019 - December 2022 / 4 years
Field of action :
Development of marine protected areas
Branch : 
Monaco
Location :
Monaco
Project sponsor(s) :
Laboratoire ECOMERS, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis
?Artificial reefs made using a 3D printer were immersed in the Larvotto Marine Protected Area in 2017. The use of 3D printing made it possible to mimic the complexity of natural habitats while employing an ecologically responsible material, Dolomite sand.
To measure the effectiveness of these reefs, a number of scientific studies have been carried out. These included the use of a hyperspectral camera, a technology used for the first time in the Mediterranean, to study the evolution of the benthos (organisms attached to the substrate) and compare it with that observed on the concrete generally used for this type of structure.
The project, carried out over 4 years by the Université Côte d'Azur, revealed promising results, with colonisation comparable to that observed on natural rock.
To measure the effectiveness of these reefs, a number of scientific studies have been carried out. These included the use of a hyperspectral camera, a technology used for the first time in the Mediterranean, to study the evolution of the benthos (organisms attached to the substrate) and compare it with that observed on the concrete generally used for this type of structure.
The project, carried out over 4 years by the Université Côte d'Azur, revealed promising results, with colonisation comparable to that observed on natural rock.