Northern Ireland Yacht Club Gets 10 Artificial Rock Pools

A concrete seawall at Strangford Yacht Club is getting a second life as a marine sanctuary, thanks to 10 honeycomb-shaped rock pools bolted to its surface.

The artificial pools, called vertipools, are the first of their kind in Northern Ireland. Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark installed them as part of a "Greening the Grey" initiative that transforms boring man-made structures into havens for wildlife.

Anna Murtagh, the geopark's marine protected area officer, says the pools will hold small amounts of water and provide refuge for species struggling with rising sea temperatures. "It's really good for biodiversity and species richness," she explained.

The team expects to see crabs, starfish, sea snails, and different types of seaweed move in within the year. But they're also excited about surprises, hoping creatures they haven't even predicted will make these pools home.

The design isn't new. Researchers from Bournemouth University have already proven that vertipools on the Isle of Wight attract sea creatures that won't settle on plain concrete walls. The rugged basins with shells fixed to vertical surfaces mimic natural rock pools that marine life desperately needs.

The Ripple Effect

This project reaches far beyond the yacht club's 20-year members. Young sailors will get hands-on marine science lessons right where they dock their boats.

Heather Gilmore, the club's training captain and former biology teacher, is thrilled about the educational opportunities. "I know how much kids get out of the fun of exploring life on the shore," she said, recalling how she's watched children hunting for crabs and starfish in the lough's clean waters.

The vertipools also serve as early warning systems. Geopark engagement officer Gavin Grant says his team will monitor for invasive barnacle species and report findings to government bodies, turning the yacht club into a citizen science hub.

Getting the project approved took serious planning. The team navigated marine licensing requirements to ensure the pools would support Strangford Lough's protected status, which includes UNESCO global geopark recognition granted in 2022 for the area's geological and cultural diversity.

The first residents should arrive soon. Grant expects barnacles and algae to colonize the pools first, setting the stage for more complex marine communities to follow.

Within a year, the seawall could look completely different, teeming with life where only bare concrete existed before.