IntelliReefs : Sustainable Marine Solutions
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – Netherlands
Project leader: Reef Life Foundation
Dates : N/A
Classification
Risks
Solutions
Actors
Costs
Summary
Sint Maarten’s marine ecosystems have been degraded by a suite of compounding natural (Hurricane Irma in 2017, heavy rainfalls) and anthropogenic (nutrient input, boating traffic) stressors over the past five decades. Since 2018, the Nature Foundation of Sint Maarten has partnered with the Reef Life Foundation to deploy three ‘IntelliReefs’ structures on the pilot site of Philipsburg. The objective of these structures are to reduce wave energy, to promote biodiversity and create additional habitat on degraded reefs, to attract and support new coral growth and healthy reef community development.
Actions
IntelliReefs are made from proprietary marine mineral matrices, the so-called Oceanite, that include high-grade limestone, aragonite, and diverse pozzolanic (calcium binding) components. Research found that this technology successfully enhanced biodiversity and created additional habitat on degraded reefs. Moreover, it also attracts and supports new coral growth and healthy reef community development.
Phase 1 consisted of deploying the first IntelliReefs prototypes in three different sites off Cole Bay, Sint Maarten. Reef Life Foundation, along with scientists, filmmakers, photographers, ocean artists, and leaders from the eco-tourism industry assisted the Nature Foundation St. Maarten with its mission to restore the island’s coral reefs.
Phase 2 objectives included documenting and analyzing the success of the IntelliReefs structures in fostering biodiversity and functioning as a substrate for coral recruits. Findings highlighted an increased cover of calcareous species such as crustose coralline algae (CCA) and brooding corals. One of the most important findings was that the IntelliReefs deployed in the Sint Maarten MPA supported almost 100% cover of plant and animal species on all substrates, which was significantly higher than the nearby natural reef.
The next phase will incorporate research on both the material science and additional biological benefits of Oceanite. An important outcome from Phase 3 is an eco-tourism business model that supports MPAs and invites local tourism operators, resorts, and NGOs to invest and participate in building a world-class dive and snorkel attraction. When complete, the IntelliReefs dive reefs will enable tourists to participate in the conservation initiative by planting coral fragments grown in nurseries.
Outcomes
Research found that this technology successfully enhanced biodiversity and created additional habitat on degraded reefs, attracted and supported new coral growth and healthy reef community development.
Kelp forests and associated organisms are growing on the Oceanite modules and are expected to continue to develop over the coming months. To date, the lone Oceanite module in shallow water is completely covered with kelp, thus already surpassing any expectations. In deeper water, the modules are expected to follow similar patterns as these are covered at 70% after four months of implementation. These trends tend to demonstrate a positive outcome from Oceanite as a suitable substrate for kelp colonization, even in degraded urban water bodies.
In the meanwhile, the structures support economic development, creating additional diving sites.
Integrating local stakeholders and businesses into conservation activities was central to the long-term success of the project.
Partners
Technical partners: The Waitt Foundation, Nature Foundation St Maarten, SeaLegacy, Reef Life Foundation