Patent ID: 7144196

Claim:
An apparatus comprising a plurality of adjacent columns, wherein: (a) each of said columns is adapted to be placed vertically on the bed of a water body; (b) each of said columns comprises a plurality of horizontal growth layers, interspersed vertically with a plurality of horizontal wave port layers; and each of said columns further comprises a plurality of connectors; (c) each of said horizontal growth layers has an approximately regular polygonal cross-section, with spokes extending inward from the vertices of the regular polygon and joining near the center of the regular polygon to provide mechanical strength to said horizontal growth layer; (d) each of said horizontal growth layers does not permit the flow of water through said growth layer in a horizontal direction, but does permit the flow of water through said growth layer in a vertical direction through internal spaces between the regular polygon and the spokes; (e) vertically adjacent horizontal growth layers are mechanically joined to one another by a plurality of said connectors, wherein said connectors are located generally within the wave port layers; (f) the horizontal wave port layers are generally open to the flow of water; (g) the surfaces of said horizontal growth layers comprise a material that is adapted to attract and encourage the growth of sessile aquatic organisms; and (h) said apparatus is adapted to substantially reduce the wave energy or current energy of aquatic waves or aquatic currents that pass through said apparatus when sessile aquatic organisms are attached to said apparatus.