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)