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Concrete Cars Become Coral Reefs in Innovative Miami Beach Project
3 Nov
Summary
- 22 life-sized concrete cars installed underwater off South Beach
- Project aims to create human-made coral reefs and attract marine life
- Funded by $5 million bond from Miami Beach, seeking $40 million for expansion
In a groundbreaking initiative to revive Florida's coral reefs, a group of artists and scientists have installed 22 life-sized concrete cars underwater off the coast of South Beach, Miami. The project, known as "Concrete Coral," was organized by the nonprofit REEFLINE and is partially funded by a $5 million bond from the city of Miami Beach.
The submerged cars, designed by artist Leandro Erlich, will soon be seeded with 2,200 native corals grown in a nearby Miami lab. According to REEFLINE's founder Ximena Caminos, the installation is a "pioneering, underwater reef" that combines art, science, and conservation efforts. The group is also seeking an additional $40 million to extend the potentially 11-phase project along an 11-kilometer stretch of Miami Beach's coastline.
Colin Foord, who runs REEFLINE's coral lab, is confident the native gorgonian corals will thrive, as they were grown from survivors of the 2023 bleaching event that devastated much of Florida's coral reefs. The underwater sculpture park is expected to attract a diverse array of marine life and accelerate the formation of a healthy coral reef ecosystem.
