[Coral-List] Building a reef in a lagoon?

Blue Water Volunteers bluewatervolunteers at yahoo.com
Mon Apr 10 13:34:50 EDT 2006


Dear listers,
 
 I came across this article from Singapore's national news agency's website recently, and would like to ask if anyone here has experience with this type of development. What was the outcome, and what are the issues involved? Another article from the newspaper stated that a 'simple sand filtration system' will 'eliminate most of the sediment from the water flowing into the lagoon, creating a clear water habitat.'
 
 Though Singapore has undergone a lot of coastal development and visibility averages around 2m most days, there's plenty of marine life left here, including 197 species of scleractinian corals, so I'm loath to see anything untoward happen to them.
 
 Any responses appreciated. Thanks in advance!
 
 Regards,
 Tse-Lynn
 
 More articles linked on this website- http://www.wildsingapore.com/news/20060304/060331-1.htm
 
 A map of the islands and the lagoon-
 http://www.wildsingapore.com/places/hantunoah.htm
 
 Channel NewsAsia 30 Mar 06
 Singapore Underwater Federation to build coral reef at Pulau Hantu 
 By Sharon See, Channel NewsAsia 
 
  SINGAPORE : Divers may have every reason to rejoice. The Singapore Underwater Federation is looking into developing a coral reef on the southern island of Pulau Hantu. 
 
  Contrary to common belief, Singapore has natural reefs on its offshore islands. 
 
  And the Singapore Underwater Federation is planning an ambitious project, called NOAH for Nurturing Our Aquatic Heritage, which aims to build a coral reef in the lagoon enclosed by Pulau Hantu. 
 
  They are also planning to move corals from other reefs to the island. 
 
  Mr Sydney Chew, Member of Singapore Underwater Federation, says: "Everybody that's involved in this project, from the engineers to the scientists, as well as conservationists have said it's doable, so I believe it is very possible that we can get this project on the road." 
 
  For the next few months, they will first conduct studies on the reefs around Pulau Hantu with a budget of $100,000. 
 
  Dr Geh Min, President of the Nature Society, says much can be done in marine conservation, and the young should be roped in to learn this lesson. She says: "What I hope is that as the project proceeds, young Singaporeans will not be just spectators, they can actually participate. I think this is very important. If you want to use nature as a teacher, taking a specimen into a classroom is very different from taking the student going out into a nature area. " 
 
  Project NOAH is expected to be completed by 2008. 
 
  
 

Cheers,
The BWV Team
http://www.bluewatervolunteers.org
 

		
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