A decommissioned 23-meter steel-hulled fishing trawler, the Twofold Bay, was sunk six kilometers off the Napier coast yesterday to serve as an artificial reef. The project, which required three years of planning and over 800 hours of labor, aims to establish a marine habitat for local biodiversity. The vessel was prepared to international standards at a cost exceeding $200,000.
Why the artificial reef was created
The primary objective for sinking the Twofold Bay is to provide a safe refuge and breeding ground for fish, crayfish, and other marine life in the Hawke’s Bay region. According to John Stewart, chairman of the Twofold Bay Charitable Trust, the vessel is positioned at a depth of 17 meters. To support this ecosystem, crews installed eleven cubic meters of concrete as ballast and manually placed five pallet loads of ceramic tiles within the hull to create specific havens for crayfish.
Community and iwi involvement
The project drew significant local support, including donations from members of the public who monitored the restoration work. Iwi representative Sandra Mauger performed a karanga from the rocks of Perfume Point as the vessel was towed from its mooring. For Mauger, the project represents a milestone for local rangatahi, providing a dedicated site for diving within their own rohe moana. Debra Probyn, widow of the boat’s original owner Kevin Probyn, observed the sinking, noting that she found it meaningful for the 1967 vessel to remain underwater rather than being processed as scrap steel.
What happens next for the site
The vessel is likely to become a central feature of the local marine environment as it settles into its new location. According to the Twofold Bay Charitable Trust, the site will be surrounded by up to 50 reef cones. These structures are expected to serve two purposes: enhancing the overall marine environment and providing protective cover for the hull against adverse weather conditions. While the sinking marks the end of the three-year preparation phase, the site may evolve into a sustained habitat as marine life begins to occupy the newly created reef structures.
