Biorock Update

Unfortunately we had a bit of a delay submerging the components (wind !) and some technical issues with the underwater transformer for the electric current, but thanks to the hard work of all the volunteers we managed to get it done !

All 5 domes (4 main ones and one smaller control dome for scientific research) and the middle connecting structures are in place.

Tomorrow the power can be connected and the low voltage current will be flowing to enhance the new coral growth.

The final step will be next week on Tuesday when coral fragments will be attached to kick start our new dive site 'HIN FAI'!

Thanks to Alex (yes you have too many toys...) the first marine life has already arrived, we are quite sure that very soon those squatters will be replaced with the real deal...

Thank you to all who have been contributing with either a donation or help with the building and sinking.

To be continued....

Biorock Construction finished

Together with Save Koh Tao (non-profit organization)and Marine Conservation Koh Tao hundreds of volunteers have worked their socks off to complete the structure of our Biorock artificial reef.

For those who are not aware of what and who Save Koh Tao (and its marine subset) are,
please follow this link with more information on the different projects numerous volunteers work on to make Koh Tao a sustainable dive destination and community.

Quickly worth to mention is that all projects are privately funded and all projects are extremely important to ensure sustainable development and NOT make the same mistakes as in Phuket or Samui for example where uncurbed development has destroyed many of the natural assets.

As far as we know, this is a unique example of a local community taking actions before it is too late, and not waiting for national governments to take action.

Reefs are deteriorating at an alarming rate worldwide due to global impact (global warming) but also due to local practices (dynamite and cyanide fishing, coastal development etc). Our community can not tackle global issues, but regional problems can be addressed to.

The reefs around Koh Tao are still in very good condition, but actions had to be taken to prevent we end up like Samui (all coastal corals died over the last 15 years due to unsustainable development), hence the biorock project.

Please log on the Biorock website www.biorock.net or www.biorock-thailand.com to see what positive effects reef construction and restoration can have.

Our reef will have 4 domes (6 m high 3 metres wide)with a center structure of 12 metres connecting all domes. A 5th smaller dome will be used as a controlling dome without power supply, as part of a research program to compare coral growth results between powered and non powered structures.

We will also keep you posted on our websites and blogspot on the progress on the project.

Here are some more photos.....

International Clean up Day

September 20th was the Project Aware International Clean Up Day with thousands of volunteers world wide 'splashing for trash'.

On Koh Tao, Scuba Junction together with Marine Conservation Koh Tao and volunteers from the local dive industry managed to pull 470 kg of rubbish out of the sea.

This was a huge 'success', apart from plastic, bottles and all sorts of other items that don't belong in the sea, also fishing nets and tyres were removed.

Abandoned fishing nets and lines keep on killing fish and marine life if not removed. Nylon is not biodegradable and is for 'life' and a continuous threat.

We hope that we also created more awareness with the local people so that future clean ups are 'less' success full.

Our next project starts tomorrow, the Biorock.

Biorock Week at Scuba Junction

A great exciting week is about to start for Scuba Junction and Koh Tao.
After almost a year of preparation, fund raising events and thanks to the support of a selected dive shops and other local businesses almost 1 million Thai Baht has been raised to finance an artificial reef on Koh Tao.
Next week (Sept 23rd until Sept 29th) the new dive site will be build and deployed.
During this week Thomas Goreau, Phd. found time in his busy agenda to stop by on Koh Tao to give his expertise with the construction and deployment.

Dr. Thomas Goreau, President of the Global Coral Reef Alliance, a non-profit organization for coral reef protection and sustainable management, has dived longer and in more coral reefs around the world than any scientist. His father was the world’s first diving marine scientist, and Dr. Goreau grew up swimming in coral reefs as soon as he could walk.
He was previously the Senior Scientific Affairs Officer at the United Nations Centre for Science and Technology for Development, in charge of global climate change and biodiversity issues. He has published around 200 papers in all areas of coral reef ecology, and on global climate change, the global carbon cycle, changes in global ocean circulation, tropical deforestation and reforestation, microbiology, marine diseases, soil science, atmospheric chemistry, community-based coastal zone management, mathematical modeling of climate records, visualizing turbulent flow around marine organisms, scientific photography, and other fields.

Biorock Week

CONSTRUCTION

Tue Sept 23- Sat Sept 27

Construction of structure

Wedn Sept 24th

SJ construction day ALL volunteers welcome (meet at SJ 9.45)

Sat Sept 27th

Mooring buoy installation on new site

Installation day

Sun Sept 28th

10.30 Buddhist Blessing Ceremony of ‘Hin Fai Fa’ (Electric Rock)

12.00 Move to location and assembly of components
Volunteer divers needed !!

19.00 After Party

Mon Sept 29th

13.00 Coral Fragment collection and transplant to Hin Fai Fa


Following supporting lecture will be giben by Dr. Thomas Goreau

Tues Sept 23th 7 pm – 8 pm Dirty Nellies (Irish Pub Mae Haed)

Coral Reef and Reef Restoration


Wed Sept 24th 7 pm – 8 pm Dirty Nellies (Irish Pub Mae Haed)

Impact of Global Warming


Thurs Sept 25th 7 pm – 8 pm Dirty Nellies (Irish Pub Mae Haed)

Sustainable development on island communities


Sat Sept 27th 7 pm – 8 pm Dirty Nellies (Irish Pub Mae Haed)

Coral Fragment Collection (attendance required to assist on Monday 29th with coral transplant to Hin Fai Fa)

House Reef Clean Up

Scuba Junction, Green Fins and Marine Conservation Koh Tao, joined forces together yesterday to conduct an Underwater Reef Clean Up on Sairee Reef.

Scuba Junction take care of the reef just off the beach in front of our dive shop, our house reef.

More than 40 volunteers in total participated, SJ had following divers joining in:

Ian, Kerry, Paul, Matt, Dan, Adrian, Tony and Deow (all SJ employees and/ or DMTs) where joined by Sophie, Myles and Yoko (SJ diving customers).

The Clean up was a 'success' with lots of plastic (which is dangerous for marine life as it can be mistaken for food), styrofoam, bottles and even a phone charger were part of about 20 kgs of garbage.

Myles found a pair of shorts smoothering a large piece of coral and was carefully removed. Hopefully this coral will be able to recover.

Reef Monitoring

Six of our DMTs participated in our latest GREEN FINS Reef Watch program.

After receiving an extensive Reef Ecology Lecture covering coral reef ecology and supporting marine life, Fran (Australia), Ian (UK), Paul and Kerry (RSA) went out diving with our Marine Conservation coordinator to collect coral reef data.

Tomorrow Matthew and Dave (both UK) will monitor a different site.

We welcome all volunteers for our monthly beach clean up (Aug 31st) which will be the next activity.

Last Monday a team of Scuba Junction also went out together with 30 other volunteers of Marine Conservation Koh Tao to restore land damage in the hills around Tanote bay.
Natural barriers were removed to create a fresh water reservoir to help alleviate the water shortages in Koh Tao in dry season, but at the same time removing natural barriers creates more run off and silt which influences the dive sites below.

In June more than 100 trees were planted and Monday small dams were built to slow down the run off and reduce the amount of silt that runs in the bay (and smothers corals).

GREEN FINS Assesment on sustainable Dive Operations

In the beginning of July, Chloe and JJ came to Koh Tao to assess GREEN FINS members on their performance in creating more sustainable and ecological friendly dive operation.
We are very proud to be a member of GREEN FINS and will continue with our support and educating our divers on how the individual can make a difference.

This is what Chloe had to say about Scuba Junction:

Dear Koen,

I would like to thank you whole heartedly for your wonderful cooperation and on going support to the Green Fins project. We are very proud to have Scuba Junction as a member of the project. We were thrilled and very encouraged by your attitude and commitment to helping the marine environment and how a dive center can have a huge influence in doing so.

The assessment results were excellent. I was extremely impressed with the attitude of your dive staff and their role model behavior under water. If you are managing to carry out Reef Watch Surveys regularly by the next assessment I can see future results being almost perfect! Keep up the brilliant work!

Wishing you the best of luck with all environmental endeavours, and remember, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at all.

Chloe Hunt
Coordinator (Phuket)
Green Fins Project
Phuket Marine Biological Center
51 Sakdidaj Rd., Vichit
Muang, Phuket 83000
Tel : +66 76 391 - 128
Mobile : +66 862 780 483
Email: hunt.chloe@googlemail.com
Website : www.greenfins-thailand.org