Artificial Reef: Turning Old Ships into National Treasures 

Abstract

Global warming is a growing threat to marine ecosystems, especially coral reefs, which are extremely sensitive to climate changes such as rising temperatures and rising carbon dioxide levels. Ocean acidification and coral bleaching are alarming signs of the effects of climate change, demonstrating the urgent need for strategies to mitigate these impacts. One promising solution is the dismantling of ships to create artificial reefs, which can serve as habitats for various marine species and help in the recovery of degraded areas. These artificial reefs also open doors to the sustainable extraction of bioproducts, offering economic opportunities for Brazil in the global biotechnology market. Investing in research in this area can generate valuable discoveries for the pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic and bioantifouling industries without biocides.

Keywords: Artificial reefs of ships, bioproducts, sustainability and marine biodiversity