Miss Lourdies (Miracle of Life) Feasibility Study
by Craig Ash (Cepemar)
The Natural Resources Planning and Management Division of the Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department (Broward County) was contacted by US Customs about the availability of the freighter as an artificial reef. Broward County in turn contacted Mr. Arilton Pavan, owner and operator of Dixie Divers of Deerfield Beach, knowing that Mr. Pavan was actively looking for opportunities to create artificial reefs in Deerfield Beach.
Cepemar Environmental Services (Cepemar), a provider of environmental and marine consulting services, was contacted by Mr. Pavan to support the artificial reef initiative.
In 1982, Florida created a program to support the development and the monitoring of artificial reefs placed along the state’s coast. The development of artificial reefs in the state has been slightly decentralized, typically built through the coordinated efforts of a county or city governmental unit (permit holder) and citizens, using mostly “materials of opportunity,” such as concrete rubble, scrap steel and vessels/barges (Woods, 1999). Currently, Florida has the largest complement of permitted artificial reefs reported in the nation (Adams et al., 2006).
Benefits of artificial reefs range from increasing reef fish habitats to socio-economic benefits to coastal communities. In Florida, there is also the role that artificial reefs can play on the restoration of reef habitat lost through activities such as beach re-nourishment and accidental vessel groundings and the protection of vulnerable shorelines due to erosion from wave activity (Dodrill, 2007). The following are some of the benefits this project can bring: |
Social and Economical Benefits
Artificial reefs can be used to enhance the biological system and the fisheries on a site. The benefits are not only on the recreational opportunities and related areas, but can also in the biological system of the area, as those structures create or improve spawning substrate, and thus increasing fish populations and species diversity (Evander, 1985). Such enhancements result in intangible benefits to the overall health and sustainability of the marine environment (Woods, 1999).
Improvements lead to an increment on diving and marine recreational fishing activities. Recreational activities related to artificial reefs encompasses many aspects of the tourism industry that are also positively affected, such as hotels, motels, restaurants, boat rentals, fishing guides, bait and tackle shops (Evander, 1985). Just in 2004, the tourism industry in Florida contributed with $57 billion to the State economy (State of Florida, 2007). In South Florida, (Adams et al. 2006) reports that the economic values associated with artificial and natural reef systems in southeast Florida have been recently measured. Johns, Leeworthy, Bell, and Bonn (2001) examined the economic impact and use values associated with both types of reef systems (artificial and natural).
The study, including Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties, found that non-residents and visitors annually spent $1.7 billion on fishing and diving activities associated with artificial reefs, resulting in approximately 27,000 jobs in the region and created $782 million in wages and salaries. The studies reviewed by Adams et al. (2006) show that artificial reefs do increase economic activity in surrounding communities and are valued by users and non-users alike. The benefits provided exceed the costs, and thus being considered a source of economic value that may justify additional deployments, even after taking into account the opportunity costs associated with scarce public funds (Woods, 1999; Adams et al. 2006). |
Local Benefits
Dixie Divers conducted in informal economic study in 2005 on the impact of the scuba diving on the local hotels. Hotels that participated in the study included: |
Comfort Inn |
Hilton of Deerfield Beach |
Deerfield Buccaneer Apartment Suites |
Best Western |
Wellesley Inn |
Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel and Resort |
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In 2005, more than 875 hotel rooms in Deerfield Beach were rented by scuba divers associated with Dixie Divers' charters and diving/snorkeling services alone. This translates to about 2,600 occupants (an average of 3 persons per room) spending money on groceries and supplies, eating in local restaurants, entertainment, fuel and other tourism-related services. As mentioned above, the economic value extends beyond the immediate services and into the surrounding community as well. |
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New artificial reef to lure tourist, fish
ELIZABETH ROBERTS - EROBERTS@TRIBUNE.COM
When U.S. Customs confiscated Miss Lourdies and anchored it on the Miami River, it was because the ship had 150 kilos of cocaine concealed inside a steel compartment. The way it was pitched at a District 1 meeting last month, however, the vessel would be reborn as an artificial reef and this area’s own economic stimulus package.
Chad Grecsek, assistant to the director of public works, said a study of the economic impact of artificial reefs found that nonresidents and visitors to Palm Beach, Broward, Miami Dade and Monroe counties annually spend $1.7 billion on fishing and diving activities associated with artificial reefs.
The commission’s approval of a $20,000 privately funded proposal to sink the vessel as an artificial reef was an important step toward winning the vessel. It would make Deerfield the marine equivalent of shovel ready for when custody of ship is awarded, Grecsek said.
“We want to make sure we don’t lose the opportunity. These vessels cost a lot of money,” said Craig Ash, general manager of Cepemar Environmental Services in Boca Raton, the company working with dive shop Dixie Divers to ease the project through the permitting process.
Plans call for the ship to be sunk astride the Broward and Palm Beach county lines.
“There are two ways to get rid of (the ship): put it out to bid –and it ends up going back into use of what brought them there in the first place-or turn it over to government and have it used for something more beneficial,”Grecsek said.
Ash said if all goes according to schedule, by mid-summer Deerfield Beach divers could be swimming out from the beach instead of driving somewhere to find the nearest artificial reef miles south.
“We just got word that the U.S. Customs case is moving forward, and by the end of March could be resolved, “Ash said. “We’re thinking 30 days for decommissioning.” And after it is cleaned of spare parts and petroleum residue, he said, “Another 30 day to sink it-maybe middle of summer.”
That would ensure a soft opening for an attraction that one study shows could add 27,000 jobs to the region and create $782 million in wages and salaries.
Visit www.DeerfieldBeach.com
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