Coastal engineering continues to evolve and over the past few years, there has been a positive shift. Seawalls around the world add thousands of cubic meters of habitat to oceans, yet they are not designed for marine life, only engineering specs and perhaps aesthetics.

But this is changing. We've taken the liberty to conceptualise how coastal engineering might be viewed over history and depicted it in this graph.

Basically, coastal engineering is evolving from a focus on meeting engineering and cost targets, to include consideration of biodiversity and building with nature so that coastal infrastructure can provide additional benefits.

SOI Director David Lennon first started suggesting the concept of 'better design below the waterline' i.e. ecologically enhanced seawalls in 1998 while working as a consultant with SKM, and conducting impact assessments for canal estates in Queensland. Back then, there was little interest in 'outside the box' thinking and adding features for fish, especially if it came as extra cost. But it is fantastic to see that times are changing and numerous projects around the world that are now including eco-engineered seawalls that enhance biodiversity.

David has been a design consultant over the past few years in a seawall enhancement project via his partner company Reef Design Lab and the World Harbour Project by SIMS. 

The goal was to design and test concrete habitat tiles that can be retroffited to existing seawalls to increase abundance of oysters, and biodiversity in general.

 

The seawall tile project included production and delivery of habitat tiles to 12 different countries for installation and testing. The project is now in phase 2 where over 500 larger and more advanced designs have been installed on three Sydney seawalls.

David has also contributed to numerous publications outlining design strategies for improving the ecological value of seawalls.

Using our 27+ yrs studying and testing how marine life use man made structures, we can provide unique insight and advice for your seawall project, so that is cost effectively maximises its ecological benefits. We welcome enquiries and collaborations whether it is an existing seawall/breakwater or one that is in the design phase.

Artificial reefs are an effective tool for offsetting the impacts of coastal and offshore marine projects that can not avoid removing natural reef habitat. 

Our role is to maximise the ecological benefits gained for the budget and timeframe of the project. In most cases the coral relocation and construction of the artificial reef must be conducted first before dredging or other works can be conducted. Therefore we place a strong emphasis on mobilising and completing the job within the allocated timeframe and we have never missed a deadline.

Artificial reefs can be designed to replace and even mimic the type of reef structure that was lost, provide substrate for receiving relocated corals or natural coral regrowth, or to help increase fish stocks of commercial or recreational importance.

Saudi Arabia - Jedda Thermal Power Plant, 2018

This project required a large seawater intake and resulting loss of some natural coral reef. We designed an artificial reef that had unique assemblages of concrete reef units of various sizes, clustered in six strategic locations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saudi Arabia - Corniche Land Reclamation, 2018

Reclaiming a large area of sand nearshore habitat triggered the requirement for offsets. In this case, the artificial reef we designed was not replace lost hard reef but to enhance the predominant sandy seabed along this section of coast. Hard substrate in this area is rapidly colonised because it is such a scarce resource and the reefs we designed were to help increase fish stocks of commercial species.

 

 

 

 

This coral relocation was mandated by the construction of a sewage treatment plant that required the installation of a 900m long outfall. This outfall pipeline needed to run from shore and through a nearshore reef before discharging in deepwater. The pipeline was trenched, creating a 30m wide impact zone.

SOI was contracted by Pacific Marine Group (PMG) to first conduct a survey and confirm which corals should be relocated and how. SOI then helped PMG prepare all necessary equipment and conduct the actual relocaiton.

In total over 308 corals were relocated 50-200m either side of the pipeline trench to areas that were suitable. The majority of corals were boulder corals ranging in size from 1m to 3m in diameter. We also relocated numerous branching corals, and groups of corals, including associated reef fish, anemones and urchins. The goal was to preserve as much diversity as possible. 

All corals were bedded or cemented to ensure they were stable and at a correct height in the water column.

Essential dredging works threatened the survival of a unique near shore reef located off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Dredging permits could not be issued until an agreed percentage of the reef was relocated out of harm’s way. This relocation had to be completed within 12 days in summer in order to prevent delays to the dredging
operation and significant additional cost to the client.

Reef Ball Australia (Partner Company to SOI) was contracted to conduct the site surveys and rapid relocation of priority coral colonies - the first such relocation ever conducted in Saudi Arabia. A total of 523 colonies ranging in size from 10cm to 130cm were relocated 700m west of the dredge site to an area of similar water quality and depth. The site was selected with input from sediment plume modelling and site surveys.

Moving corals in the summer is not usually recommended due to the added stress of high temperatures however the local coral species proved resilient and able to survive up to 10 minutes out of water.

Table 1.Coral species and number relocated.

Benefits to the Client

• Dredging permit issued on schedule and dredging able to commence without delay.
• Reduced environmental impact and demonstration of best practice for dredging works.
• The whole project was successfully conducted with minimal input required from the client except for visa applications. Our experience of working in the Middle East combined with our Saudi partner Gothier Contracting meant that all equipment, accommodation, portacabin, transport, dive equipment, airfreight, and boats were sourced with no time or resources required from the client.

Services provided

• Data review and construction of GIS model
• Site survey
• Coral relocation plan and budget
• Mobilisation of equipment and international team of certified coral handlers
• All in-country logistics
• Relocation and stabilisation of coral including construction of custom concrete artificial reef units
• Comprehensive report and presentation
• Fortnightly monitoring of relocated colonies including monitoring reports
• Continuous water temperature data via logging temperature loggers
• Final monitoring and report at 6 months.

For detailed project summaries, please request via our ‘contact us’ page.

The proposed project consisted of a 13km shipping channel and harbour to be constructed for a US$28B petrochemical facility. The channel would pass through an area of caprock ridges supporting important coral communities and associated reef biota including commercially important fish species.

The companies commissioned site surveys and a mitigation plan to reduce and compensate for impacts resulting from the dredge works. Mitigation strategies included relocation of high priority coral species, construction of compensatory artificial reefs, innovative dredging options, and enhancement of rock seawalls and design of silt curtain configurations to reduce sediment loading on key habitats.

Services Provided

• Data review and construction of model
• Site surveys to confirm coral species, size, abundance, suitability for relocation, ecological value, imperilled and threatened boundaries, suitable relocation site
• Mobilisation of equipment and international team
• All in-country logistics
• Comprehensive mitigation plan with options ranked with regard to cost, benefits, likely success, timescale, availability of resources and practicality
• Artificial reef designs to compensate for ecological services lost
• Silt curtain design (including costings) to reduce extent of dredge plume and impact on coral

Benefits to the Client

• Independent advice as to practicality of EIS recommendations
• 6 mitigation options clearly defined and ranked
• Estimated budgets to factor into Stage 2 financials
• The whole project was successfully conducted with minimal input required from the client except for visa applications.

 

>> Download a testimonial from the Project Managers regarding our performance and delivery on this project. Note: this particular project was conducted through our artificial reef construction company 'Reef Ball Australia'.

Dredge Mitigation & Coral Transplantation

Papua New Guinea - Coral Relocation for Pipeline

SOI was contracted by Pacific Marine Group to provide the strategy and assist in relocating over 260 priority coral bommies out of the path of a pipeline to be installed.

The project was a wonderful example of what can be achieved and how infrastructure projects can reduce their impacts to local reefs. We also relocated a high number of anemones and resident clownfish and urchins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Qatar - New Doha Port Coral Mitigation Plan

SOI was contracted to conduct the detailed coral mapping and preparation of coral mitigation and artificial reef plan for the new world class Doha Port and naval base to commence construction in 2012. This port will have a 10km dredged shipping channel and impact footprint of 4.5km².

Environmental impact assessments typically do not include the necessary surveys required for coral relocation and mitigation plans. Therefore specialists such as SOI are required to conduct additional surveys after the EIA and this can add delays to permits and increase project costs as well as limit opportunities for mitigation. We highly recommend you contact SOI prior to conducting EIAs and design work in order to maximise the scope of your opportunities to mitigate impacts, avoid delays to dredging and additional costs to important projects.

 

Coral & Marine Environment Preservation Plan

Site surveys and preparation of artificial reef designs to mitigate a 13km shipping channel to be constructed for U$28b refinery. Plan covered coral relocation, construction of compensatory artificial reefs and enhancement of rock harbour walls.
 

>> Download a testimonial from the Project Managers regarding our performance and delivery on this project. Note: this particular project was conducted through our artificial reef construction company 'Reef Ball Australia'.

Coral Relocation
Relocation of unique near shore coral colonies out of dredge zone including construction of custom artificial reef to anchor the coral.

Reef Ball Breakwater
Reef Ball contractor in the largest Reef Ball breakwater for beach protection built to date with over 4,000 Reef Balls deployed. Included the transplantation on to the Reef Balls of over 17 tonnes of rescued corals from pending dredge sites making it the largest coral relocation ever conducted.

Tsunami Coral Reef Restoration
Team Leader for the Reef Ball Foundation to rescue broken coral and construct and deploy Reef Ball artificial reef modules to restore structure to reefs damaged by the tsunami. Utilised 30 volunteers from 15 different countries.

 

Fisheries Enhancement & Multipurpose Reefs

Bahrain - SOI with Bahrain partners PHE Gulf and Reef Arabia have won a two year contract to design, build and monitor reefs for fisheries enhancement to commence late 2011.

Photo below shows the construction yard of Reef Arabia which SOI trained to manufacture the concrete reef units for the project. Reef Arabia in partnership with SOI and Reef Ball Australia is now up and running and able to supply the GCC with reef units ranging in size from 20kg to over 6 tonnes.

Bahrain project info and photos_Mar 2012

BAH_Reef_Arabia_news_article_in_Arabic_Dec_2011.jpg

Reef Arabia brochure

 

 

 

Marine Habitat Enhancement – Peel Region
Feasibility study and recommendations for marine habitat enhancement of canal estates and natural waterways.

Set-up of construction site and training of volunteers on construction of Reef Balls and their deployment under docks and within canals.

New South Wales Fisheries - (Sydney Australia) – set-up of construction site and training on construction of Reef Balls to be used to enhance Lake Macquarie.

Fishery Enhancement Program - (North Sulawesi, PT Newmont Minahasa Raya) -  US gold mine project to improve fisheries and mitigate damage to coral from dynamiting.  Site selection, set-up of construction and training, deployment and reef configurations. Now rated as one of Asia’s top dive spots.

Habitat rehabilitation and Fisheries Enhancement (British Petroleum, Trinidad & Tobago) - environmental impact assessment and recommendations for marine habitat rehabilitation and constructed reefs to improve local fisheries.

New South Wales Estuary Enhancement - (NSW Industry & Investment) – supply of over 2,000 Reef Balls for the creation of recreational fishing reefs in five estuaries.

Recreational Fishing Reefs - (Fisheries Victoria) – reef design advice and supply of 288 Reef Balls to create three snapper reefs in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria Australia.

Marine Habitat Enhancement Program - (Abu Dhabi, UAE)–enhancement of fisheries and corals around a private island using Reef Balls ranging in size from 15 kg to 3000kg. Setup up of construction site, training of local staff, site assessment, reef design, coral transplants and deployment of 350 Reef Balls.

Erosion Control using Reef Balls - (Turtle Islands Sabah) – survey of five islands and recommendations of how Reef Ball breakwaters could be used to reduce erosion and maximise environmental enhancement. Breakwater completed 2008.

HMAS Brisbane - Site Assessment& Recommendations - (Queensland Dept. of Premier and Cabinet, Australia) – survey of benthic habitats and analysis of wave climate at proposed locations for the sinking of the HMAS Brisbane navy destroyer off the Sunshine Coast.  Project Manager.

HMAS Brisbane - Investigation of Permit Requirements and Required Works – (State Development Sunshine Coast, & Sunshine Coast Artificial Reef Group Australia) – review and recommendations on permits required for sinking of the ex-navy ship as a diving attraction off the Sunshine Coast.

Coastal Protection using Artificial Reefs- (Caloundra City Council, Australia) – impact assessment and reef design options and costings for improving swimming conditions along a dangerous coast.  Project Manager.

Southern Cross Underwater Trail- (Mooloolaba, Qld) – unique concept design, site assessment, permit approval and provision of concrete Reef Ball modules for an underwater trail off Mooloolaba. Supported by Underwater World and Bodyshop.

Octopus Gardens - (CYDIVE Pty Ltd, CYPRUS) - design and establishment of the world's first 'Octopus Gardens'.  Extremely successful habitats specifically designed to attract octopus to entertain and help educate sport divers about marine life.

Construction of artificial reefs (Saudi Arabia)– general diving reefs in a sandy bay within the Arabian Gulf using materials of opportunity.  Included the preparation of a guide for the local diving clubs on how to design and construct an artificial reef.

 

Reef Conservation

Reef Conservation Mauritius (Mauritius) – Founder and Chief Technical Advisor for the creation, setup and management of the NGO (www.reef-mauritius.com) to achieve sustainable management and conservation of marine resources through the community stewardship and partnerships with fisheries and tourism. Includes Beach Resource Centre, marine tour guide training and certification, permanent moorings, MPA, and marine education programs in over 80 schools.

Palau International Coral Reef Research Center (US Department of State) - private sector Advisory Council Member providing input to the design and planning of this large scale joint venture between the US, Palau, and the Japanese governments to help assure the preservation of tropical coral reefs throughout the region.

 

Marine Protected Areas and Coastal Management Plans

Development of National Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (Government of Mauritius, Landell Mills Ltd) -  Identify priority areas for development of action plans to be included within the overall ICZM strategy including potential development of future marine protected areas and develop demonstration action plans for the selected sites.

Islets Management Plan For Lagoon And Offshore Islets – Second Phase (University of Mauritius and Ministry of Agriculture  National Parks and Conservation Unit) - Field surveys and consultations with all stakeholders to develop a management plan including identification of marine protected areas for the inner lagoon and offshore islets.

Partnerships for MPA’s in Mauritius and Rodribues (UNDP/GEF Government of Mauritius and the Rodrigues Regional Assembly) - Establishment of a co-managed marine protected area in Rodrigues (South East marine Protected Area SEMPA) as a demonstration site and institutional and legislative review and strengthening in support of co-management of MPAs.

Shandong Provincial Coastal Tourism Development Plan (Shandong Provincial Tourism Administration) - Environmental impact advice relating to proposed tourism developments on the Shandong coast, northern China; development of ecotourism strategies, appropriate landscaping techniques to enhance coastal management.  

Regional Programme on Sustainable Management of the Coastal Zone of the Countries of the Indian Ocean (European Union, Commission of the Indian Ocean) - Feasibility study for the development of a Regional Coastal Zone Management process for the Western Indian Ocean Island States and the East Coast of Africa.

Sustainable Development of the Seychelles Fisheries Sector (Seychelles Fishing Authority, Government of Seychelles) – Compilation of data and development of a 10 year sustainable fisheries plan including presentation and defence of the plan to the various sectors and Government.

Shoals of Capricorn Programme (Governments of Seychelles, Mauritius and UK) - Negotiations, planning, implementation and management of regional research, training and education programme in the western Indian Ocean leading to the development of national initiatives in Seychelles and Mauritius.