NEWS: Tamil Nadu will deploy India’s first 3D-Printed Artificial Reef Modules in the coastal waters of Ramanathapuram under the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

ABOUT

• India's first pilot project using 3D-printed artificial reef modules for marine habitat restoration.
• Developed by Tvasta (IIT Madras incubated startup) in collaboration with the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Visakhapatnam Regional Centre.
• To be deployed about 2 nautical miles offshore near Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu.
• Each reef module weighs approximately 1 tonne.

KEY FEATURES

• Manufactured using advanced 3D-printing technology.
• Designed with complex geometries, crevices, folds, and attachment surfaces that provide shelter and breeding grounds for marine organisms.
• Built without iron reinforcement using highly porous materials.
• Offers greater structural complexity and larger surface area than conventional concrete reefs.

BENEFITS

• Promotes growth of corals, sponges, and other reef-associated marine species.
• Enhances marine biodiversity and restores degraded coastal ecosystems.
• Creates species-specific habitats for improved ecological restoration.
• Enables faster production, lower labour costs, and design flexibility compared to traditional artificial reefs.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Marks a major step in applying 3D-printing technology for marine conservation.
• Supports sustainable fisheries, coastal ecosystem restoration, and blue economy initiatives under PMMSY.