The Project
AIM
Project Restore aims to combine the methods and technologies of four SIMS flagship projects, which to date have operated largely independently of one another.
Together, these key projects provide a template for restoration of whole seascapes within urban harbours and waterways:
- Operation Posidonia
- Operation Crayweed
- Living Seawalls
- Fish Habitat enhancement
VISION
To restore and enhance multiple connected habitats in Sydney for marine life and humans to thrive.
More importantly if the positive impacts of the project can be clearly articulated and we have a template, we can scale the Sydney Harbour restoration efforts to more locations both within Sydney Harbour and into other urbanised marine environments.
GOALS
1. Habitat Restoration
Restore Seascapes with Posidonia meadows, seaweed forests and enhance artificial foreshores areas by installing Living Seawall panels and Reef Pods across various locations within Sydney Harbour.
2.Boost Biodiversity
Improve local biodiversity and associated ecological communities to levels at or above standard ecological benchmarks at each restoration location.
3. Connecting Seascapes
Rehabilitate habitat connectivity between restored habitats and adjacent natural habitats and associated benthic and pelagic communities within each restoration location.
4. Community Engagement
Community and institutions look after the natural environment. We want to empower the community by increasing awareness and sense of stewardship.
5. Increase Employment
Boost local employment – employ STEM, engineering and natural resource management (NRM) personnel and businesses in resource procurement and restoration of marine habitats.
PRIMARY INVESTIGATORS
PROFESSOR MELANIE BISHOP
PROFESSOR DAVID BOOTH
PROFESSOR KATHERINE DAFFORN
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR EZEQUIEL MARZINELLI
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MARIANA MAYER PINTO
PROFESSOR ADRIANA VERGES
THE TEAM
DR FRANCISCO MARTINEZ-BAENA
Project Manager
TOM BURD
Research Assistant
MITCHELL BRENNAN
Research Assistant
MEG TRETHEWY
Research Assistant
KYLE GOODMAN
Research Assistant
GIGLIA BERETTA
Research Assistant
TIA BOOL
Media & Communications Officer
PARTNERS
Generously funded by NSW Environmental Trust and in partnership with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water as part of the Seabirds to Seascapes Program, Project Restore aims to enhance and regenerate urban marine habitats by recovering lost seagrass meadows, enhancing kelp forests, installing living seawall panels, and deploying artificial fish habitats at key sites within the harbour.
COLLABORATORS
The Sydney Institute of Marine Science, in collaboration with the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, the University of Technology Sydney, and Macquarie University has been leading the restoration of key degraded habitats and the use of eco-engineering to enhance the habitat value of artificial foreshores.
