Dredging
Sustainable Oceans International Pty Ltd (SOI) recognises that there is an increasing awareness and demand for primary and compensatory restoration when important habitats such as reefs are impacted by dredging.
For example, in just the last year alone we have been asked to quote and/or be involved in reef restoration projects connected to dredging in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jamaica, and Hawaii. We believe we are seeing a global progression from the impact assessments and environmental management plans (EMP) that reduce impacts to plans that include additional actions in the form of coral reef restoration or compensation for ecological services lost.
The challenge for dredging companies (or the project consultants) is determining What form of coral restoration is possible (technically, financially, ecologically), What should be done, and Who can do it.
An additional challenge is presented by the fact that restoring coral reefs or constructing effective reefs usually requires a range of products/technologies yet the majority of providers are committed to only one product/technology and this can increase costs, complicate contracts, cause delays and limit the effectiveness of restoration.
SOI has been established to specifically help dredging projects satisfy reef restoration or compensation demands. SOI is the only company that provides a range of proven technologies for constructing artificial reefs and restoring natural reefs.
How SOI can help you
SOI works closely with your team to evaluate your Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Environmental Management Plans (EMP) and relevant project limitations to develop cost effective strategies(eg coral management plans) to reduce or restore marine impacts to reefs. We have worked directly for permitting agencies, environmental impact consultancies and major engineering consultancies therefore bring an understanding of each side’s needs.
We provide customised services to meet your needs, as well as:
- Detailed site surveys to quantify the potential or actual damage to reefs
- Preparation of mitigation plans for environmental approval / permits (eg Coral Relocation Plans, Coral Management Plans, Coral Preservation Plans)
- Independent reviews and advice for Environmental Management Plans (EMP), Best Management Practice (BMP) and/or Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
- Coral relocation and propagation
- Coral reef restoration and/or enhancement
- Designed artificial reefs to compensate for loss of natural rocky outcrops or coral reefs, enhance fisheries, enhance seawalls/breakwaters
- International project management
- Silt curtain design, installation and management
- Marine impact monitoring and reporting
We have demonstrated experience in delivering support for dredging projects – and have even worked within a tight 12-day timeframe to successfully relocate coral reefs out of harms way before a construction project in the Middle East. Read more
Learn more about our dredging programs
In the News
We have a winner!
Sustainable Ocean Innovation Award 2012
...and the award goes to...GhostNets Australia for their work in northern Australia tackling the serious problem of lost fishing nets called 'ghost nets'.
The group has found ghost nets measuring 10km long and recorded a myriad of marine species that get entangled as the nets drift along with the currents. The litany of marine casualties include turtles, dolphins, sharks, seabirds, crocodiles, rays and of course, multitudes of fish. The destruction caused by ghost nets continues as they near shore, often wrapping themselves around delicate coral reefs and coastal mangrove systems.
"The GhostNets Australia program is a fantastic example of innovation in action. Solving our environmental problems needs a healthy dose of lateral thinking in order to first see a solution and then brainstorm a way to make it happen" said David Lennon, director of Sustainable Oceans International.
>>Read the media release here: Sustainable Ocean Innovation Award 2012
878 trees to save Orang Utans
SOI through the fantastic giving portal Buy 1 Give 1 (www.b1g1.com) donates a percentage of every project to planting trees in Borneo for Orang Utan habitat.
We just purchased 100 more trees today as part of our Bahrain project with Reef Arabia. That makes 878 in total we've added to the planet rather than taken away from the planet.
Why not join us and include B1G1 in your business!
SOI constructs first 'cod house' to help save Murray cod
Murray cod are Australia's largest freshwater fish and overfishing and loss of essential habitat has decimated their numbers. SOI has been contracted to design and construct a concrete unit to help restore some of the essential breeding habitat the fish require. Sidescan image by ACT Government.
SOI wins 2 Year Contract - Bahrain
SOI and partner Reef Arabia have won a two year contract to design, build and monitor 10 artificial reefs around Bahrain.
>>Further details and photos of deployment of first reef in Bahrain
>>Bahrain newspaper article in Arabic
Four reefs have been deployed thus far. This is the first project of its kind to be constructed in the Arabian Gulf and the first to use custom reef units (designed by SOI) specifically for the local species.
SOI Completes Coral Mitigation Plan for New Doha Port
SOI conducted the necessary surveys and prepared the coral mitigation plans for the New Doha Port construction. This included accurate coral surveys to quantify the size, type and number of corals within the imperiled and threatened zones, and detailed recommendations on relocation methodology, relocation sites and compensatory artificial reefs to offset loss of productive reef structure.
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