50 Years Underwater: Guam's Tyre Reef Removed

An environmental experiment in Guam's Cocos Lagoon, which began in 1969, resulted in decades of submerged tyre waste. The artificial reef was created with the belief that discarded tyres could provide habitat for marine life and enhance fisheries. However, the initiative was discontinued after just four years as it did not demonstrably increase fish stocks.

Despite the experiment's early end, the tyres remained on the lagoon floor for over 50 years. This situation raised concerns about potential contamination and physical damage to the surrounding marine ecosystem. By 2019, efforts were underway to address this long-standing issue.

In a significant cleanup operation funded by a NOAA grant, environmental agencies removed the tyres between 2019 and 2021. Divers retrieved 1,829 tyres, totaling nearly 22 metric tonnes. Prior to removal, 69 coral colonies were successfully transplanted to a new location within the lagoon. The recovered tyres were then shredded and sent for recycling, concluding a chapter of unintended environmental consequence.