Le Méridien Al Aqah launches Al Aqah's first Reef Block Structure Project

Fujairah Municipality provided six of the structures, each weighing 2.5 tonnes, while one of the man-made reef structures was provided by Eco, a recycle plastic company in Jebel Ali. FNCT and SIJI Cement companies have sponsored 11 of the structures.

"The beauty of the Indian Ocean is a major draw card for Fujairah and we have been vigilant about protecting this natural wonder and keeping it clean. We regularly participate in clean-up projects, such as Clean Up Arabia in November 2008, and this project will go further by creating a sustainable marine environment,"

said Patrick Antaki, General Manager, Le Méridien Al Aqah.

The reef block structures are artificial reef modules placed in the ocean to form reef habitat. Under Al Boom's project, they will be placed several hundred meters away from the private beach at Le Méridien Al Aqah to create a house reef. The UAE is one of 59 countries which have implemented the project, organized by international non-governmental organization, the Reefball Foundation.

The delegation attending today's launch included Fujairah City Mayor, His Excellency Hassan Aly Amahy, Major Ahmad Ibrahim, Director of Fujairah Marine Club, and officials from Emirates Diving Association and Le Méridien Al Aqah.

Al Boom Diving presented the reef block structure project at the Dubai International Boat Show in April 2009 and has worked with local organizations since then to prepare the man-made reef objects, to achieve the ultimate goal of keeping the region's coral reefs alive.

The complex project involves moving the reef block structures, which each weigh 500kg to 2.5 tonnes by crane to the water where they are placed on lift bags and floated into the ocean by boats. Hotel guests and members of the community joined in the project, snorkeling in the ocean while the reef structures were deployed.