We support UK Artifical Reefs

Non-profit community group Weymouth and Portland Wreck to Reef has called on divers to sign an e-petition for increased government support in sinking decommissioned warships as artificial reefs.

The group has in the last three years secured permissions for the creation of a new multifaceted reef site three miles off the coast of Weymouth. The square kilometre site will include a lobster re-stocking reef, a quarry reef, a solace reef and two scuttled ex-naval warships.

While the lobster re-stocking reef is already a reality, funding for the purchase of the two ships has yet to be achieved, and the organisation is calling on divers to aid their cause and sign a petition to encourage the government to donate at least one vessel by deed of gift.

A spokesperson for the group said the UK government still lies someway behind several of its European neighbours in its backing of such projects – projects that can herald significant financial benefits for coastal communities.

They added: “Rotting Naval ships in Portsmouth worth £2.5million in scrap could generate £100million in VAT alone for the UK if sunk as artificial reefs!”

To sign the petition, click here.

For more information about the project, visit www.wrecktoreef.co.uk.