Tamil Nadu is set to deploy India’s first 3D-printed artificial reef modules in coastal waters

New Delhi (Vivek Ojha) : Tamil Nadu is set to deploy India’s first 3D-printed artificial reef modules in coastal waters as part of an ambitious marine habitat restoration initiative under the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.

It is to be deployed by Tamil Nadu in coastal waters off the Ramanathapuram coast.  It is part of an ambitious marine habitat restoration initiative under the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.

 It will serve as a pilot to assess the performance of six newly developed reef designs created through advanced 3D-printing technology. 

The modules, each weighing about 1 tonne, were developed by Chennai-based startup Tvasta, an IIT Madras-incubated company, in collaboration with Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute. These modules will be deployed about two nautical miles offshore.