[Coral-List] Coral restoration

Mon May 19 10:02:35 EDT 2008

I agree largely with David's assessment of artifical reefs as a
frequently abused 'quick fix'. I would argue that the biggest issue
facing areas of rapid coastal development such as the Eastern Arabian
Gulf coast is the cumulative impact of these projects. The solution is
strategic environmental assessment and integrated coastal zone
management at the national and regional level. 

Much of the mitigation measures implimented to offset destruction of
existing reef areas in the Eastern Arab Gulf involve hard landscaping of
an other wise sand dominated substrate which provide hard substrate on
which reefs may establish. However the recovery of reefs in this region
is increasingly unlikely to be driven by lack of suitable habitat for
reefs to establish but by a lack of source reef to drive that
regeneration process. 

By this I mean the loss of; 

1. seeding reefs that will supply larvae to suitable habitats (source
and sink areas) 

2. the physical processes that convey these recruits. 

Certain developments act as effective barriers to near-shore drift
currents vital for intertidal and shallow benthic larval transport,
effectively negating mitigation measures designed on a project by
project basis down stream of larval sources.

Due to the complexity and variation in scale over which marine
ecosystems function, the solution to sustainable coastal development
requires a strategic level approach, which for a rapidly developing
coastline is easier said than done.

Joe Phelan
BSc PhD
Environmental Scientist
Mott Macdonald
Abu Dhabi
tel +971 (0) 2 4457 470
tel +971 (0) 2 6262 966 Ext. 855

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-----Original Message-----
From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
[mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Medio,
David
Sent: 19 May 2008 12:18
To: Douglas Fenner
Cc: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Coral restoration

 Doug

apologies! It is indeed the Arabian Gulf (Persian to some) I am
referring to!

David

Dr David Medio
Principal Environmental Scientist
Halcrow Group Ltd, Arndale Centre, Otley Rd, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 2UL,
UK
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-----Original Message-----
From: Douglas Fenner [mailto:dfenner at blueskynet.as]
Sent: 18 May 2008 00:18
To: Medio, David
Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Coral restoration

Dave,
    Are you speaking of the Arbian/Persian Gulf?  I know its common to
refer to it as the Gulf in that area.  The coral-list has many readers
that are closer to the Gulf of Mexico, some near the Gulf of California,
and so on. 
Might be good to specify so no one is left wondering.  Thanks!  -Doug

----- Original Message -----
From: "Medio, David" <MedioD at halcrow.com>
To: <coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov>
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 2:13 AM
Subject: [Coral-List] Coral restoration

>I am involved in a wide range of medium to very large coastal
developments 
>some of which a priori are known to damage long established reefs in
the 
>Gulf. Whereas some of the recent artificial reef applications may well
have 
>had positive results, I am as rule very sceptical on the use of and 
>proliferaion as well as the political clout afforded artificial reef 
>initiatives.
>
> Firstly, can we really recreate a reef (as opposed to relocating
existing 
> bits of a reef) in its complexity, function and extent?
>
> Secondly, using man made reefs, if pushed to the limit, as is the case
in 
> many coastal and offshore developments in the Gulf, will amount
frequently 
> to giving a green light to using such as a tool to offset large levels
of 
> multi-layered damage to the marine environment, i.e. more than just
the 
> coral habitats.
>
> Reefs in the Gulf are increasingly being described as far more
extensive 
> and pristine and species rich than previuosly thought whilst at the
same 
> coming under the greatest level of pressure ever experienced in the 
> region.
>
> The answer for their conservation is cleverly designed engineering,
robust 
> and well implemented mitigation measures and environmental management 
> plans, improved environmental educational and awareness and improved 
> regulatory frameworks.
>
>
> Dr David Medio
> Principal Environmental Scientist
> Halcrow Group Ltd, Arndale Centre, Otley Rd, Headingley, Leeds, LS6
2UL, 
> UK
> tel: switchboard +44 (0)113 2208220, direct line: +44 (0)113 220 8253,

> mobile: +44 (0)773 919 0968
> fax: +44 (0)113 274 2924   email: mediod at halcrow.com 
> www.halcrow.com
>
________________________________________________________________________
_______
>
> Halcrow   Sustaining and improving the quality of people's lives
>
________________________________________________________________________
____ 
> __

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