A diver guides the coral during the relocation process last year.
Nakheel has announced that more than 5500 tonnes of coral transported to the breakwaters of The World development is responding well to its new habitat.
A new method, which involves keeping the coral underwater throughout the entire relocation process, is to thank for the positive results, the master-developer said in a statement today.
The rocks, which cover the size of a football pitch, were moved from Dubai Dry Docks to The World breakwaters and are now home to 18 species of coral and more than 30 species of fish as well as sea-squirts and urchins.
Initial findings by Dr John Burt of the Natural Science and Public Health department at Zayed University showed that one year on, 93% of the transported marine ecosystem is thriving.
“A project on this scale has never before been attempted and I am delighted with the results we are seeing,” Burt said. “The project marks an important step in our understanding of the methods of coral translocation.”
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The coral was relocated over a period of seven weeks, between April and June 2008. A total of 1129 rocks with an average weight of 5 tonnes were moved and now cover an area of 6560m2.
“The coral translocation area has attracted a number of species of reef fishes that are less common elsewhere in that area, including a number of commercially important species,” Burt said.
The typical method of removing coral involves the use of crow bars, underwater drills and cranes, Nakheel said.
The developer’s environmental team developed the new technique, in which a bolt was drilled into each rock then attached to a sling to hoist the rocks to a depth of 3m below the water surface and attached to a transport barge.
“The methods used are a world first, and one year on have been hailed by independent parties as a resounding success,” said Brendan Jack, head of sustainability and environment, Nakheel Northern Projects.
The 27km breakwaters surround The World, a cluster of 300 man-made islands that Nakheel is building in the shape of a world map off the coast of Dubai.
Despite delaying a number of its projects due to the global economic downturn, Nakheel, said in January work was continuing on the development.
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