GRAND ISLE, Louisiana (WVUE) – A new artificial reef is being built off the coast of Grand Isle, transforming the area into a thriving habitat for marine life.

The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) of Louisiana is leading the project, which includes a 10,000-square-foot reef made of 3D-printed concrete structures called Cajun Coral.

The reef is being built about four and a half miles north of Grand Isle and will replace lost habitat once maintained by the Hotel Sid oil platform in the Barataria Waterway. When the oil and gas platform was decommissioned and removed, the underwater ecosystem that depended on it was also destroyed.

To fill this gap, CCA Louisiana is working to rebuild the habitat using advanced 3D printing technology.

The Cajun Coral modules are designed to mimic natural reefs and provide a new home for countless marine species.

Coast in crisis

Todd Graves, CEO of Raising Cane, donated $100,000 to build five of these artificial reefs.

“The loss of this structure, which is so important to marine life, creates an ecosystem with countless marine species. Something had to fill that gap or these ecosystems will disappear,” Graves said. “I am proud to support CCA in rebuilding an artificial reef where Hotel Sid was supposed to restore marine life.”

This new reef is the 52nd artificial reef built by CCA Louisiana in the last 20 years. Each of the reef’s four modules weighs 400 pounds and forms a new, massive structure that serves as a habitat for marine life.

Graves encourages other companies to join the effort to rebuild Louisiana’s coast.

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