A recent article in the local paper reported the US Navy desire to install hydraulic DC electic generator bouys affixed to the seafloor in 100 ft of tropical water off the coast of Oahu. The notion is that it is cheap energy. Cheap does not include the environmental impact of such devices which may be a basis for corals to grow on. Once Corals attach to the devices, the US Navy is not allowed to remove the corals for maintenance purposes. So, eventually the cheap power supply will cease to function and become the foundation for the growth of a reef. Such a reef will alter wave action and coastal erosion rates. The environmental impact statement was not noted in the local paper.

JMG.

so they didn't mention a coating that coral wouldnt' stick to, or other alternatives?

given how delacate coral is, I doubt it would be able to grow on these thing very easily at all. Barnacles, weeds, muscles, anenomies, etc, that would be pretty easy. but bouies and coral? not for a few decades, I bet.



wait...we are talking about floating bouey, right? not things attached to the seafloor at sea floor level, but things attached to the seafloor by a cable.....wait, that doesn't make sense. ok, feel free to ignore me, I think I was confused on the details.