Fisheries
The media and scientific community have been regularly reporting on the degradation of natural reefs, overfishing and the reduction in fish stocks caused by unprecedented coastal development and the potential negative impacts of climate change. Sustainable Oceans International Pty Ltd (SOI) understands the increasing demand on fisheries to manage catch rates and sustain biodiversity and fish stocks in an increasingly fragile marine environment. Artificial reefs and improved habitat are tools used internationally to manage these challenges and are the tools that we specialise in. We have been constructing artificial reefs since 1991.
SOI recently won a two year contract with PHE Gulf to design, construct and monitor ten artificial reefs around Bahrain in order to increase fish stocks and offset loss of essential fish habitat.
>>Click here for Bahrain newspaper article in Arabic
>>Click here for Bahrain project info and photos of deployment
How SOI can help you
Sustainable Oceans International Pty Ltd (SOI) supports fisheries by providing international experience on the design and construction of artificial reefs and habitat enhancement as well as the supply of artificial reef modules. SOI provides reef design and construction for recreational fishing reefs, deep water reefs for pelagic fishes, anti-trawl reefs, enhancement of coastal structures, or alternative fishing spots within or near Marine Protected Areas.
Our experts have worked with Fisheries Victoria and the Department of Industry & Investment New South Wales to provide effective recreational fishing reefs.
We have a range of services available, below are some services relevant to fisheries:
- Range of artificial reef modules (15kg to 3+ tonnes) to suit target species and application
- Anti trawl reefs
- Recreational or commercial fishing reef design
- Setup of Voluntary No Take Areas in island cultures
- Monitoring – Baited Underwater Video (BUV), otoliths as biomarkers, hydroacoustic survey
>> Download our Tech Note: Designing Artificial Reefs and Cities - the shared principles
>> Download our Tech Note: ADAM - 4 fundamental stages in artificial reef construction
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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