09 October 2012
Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall in £1.2m bid to create artificial reef
A £1.2 million artificial reef financed by TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's production company could be built off the South Devon. The scheme, which has been given conditional approval by Torbay Council's harbour committee, would see up to 1,000 concrete balls placed on the seabed off Torquay. Thousands of 6ft wide concrete reef balls could be placed on the seabed in an environmental project backed by Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall. Four areas have been earmarked as potential sites. Rick Parker, a charter boat owner and expert diver, is behind the environmental project. He told the harbour committee the idea was to create pockets of protected wildlife around Tor Bay. He said the artificial reef, if approved by planners, would be the first of its kind in the UK. Mr Parker said: "I want to give something back and help marine wildlife flourish in the Bay. I want to do something right." Mr Parker said he has the backing of TV celebrity and eco-campaigner Mr Fernley-Whittingstall and his TV production company KIO Films. He said Mr Fernley-Whittingstall would put money into the project and would film the installation and progress of the reef balls as part his latest Fish Fight Channel Four programme. To read more click on the link:
