254
That sinking feeling
(sh.itjust.works)
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Very cool read! I learned a lot. Let me quote a few interesting passages.
Fish do congregate around wrecks and make them their new homes, but (emphasis mine):
Not to mention pollution potential, even from basic building materials like iron that persist after intentional scrubbing and decontamination:
So, it sounds like these wrecks can become habitats, but they aren't as biodiverse as natural coral reefs and can have other negative consequences. If we've destroyed the natural habitat, then these can be band-aid replacements so the fish at least have somewhere to go. If the natural habitat still exists in an area, then that natural habitat is much healthier without contamination.
They're usually sank in areas that are otherwise uninhabited by corals due to the depth of the water. The wrecks provide surfaces in the light zone which allows corals to grow.
It's entirely new habitat and it provides more breeding sites in the area. Even if it takes wildlife from other areas, the decrease in population in those results in higher breeding rates in those locations due to decreased competition for food and breeding sites. More breeding sites = more breeding and a higher overall population of wildlife over time.
Ecology aside, these sites draw a lot of tourism. They're "shipwrecks" that are in shallow water, often shallow enough that you can experience them while scuba diving, without needing decompression stops. This means that scuba divers can experience wreck diving without the extra complexity of decompression.
There are many of these artificial reefs around Florida and they're very popular dive sites in areas that otherwise would have no similar attractions.
Source: Dated a woman who worked at fish and wildlife, department of marine fisheries and attended the sinking of the Oriskany ( https://www.padi.com/dive-site/united-states-of-america-usa/uss-oriskany/#overview )