‘Cooler’ in mix for Reef
Underwater turbines set to be used in ambitious effort to prevent coral bleaching
A WATER mixing device designed to cool down seawater in order to prevent coral bleaching is set to be installed off Cairns in December.
The Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC), with the assistance of the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, has already set up monitoring equipment at Moore Reef, about 40km east from the city, in preparation for the “Reef Haven” project.
The $4.5 million pilot program is the first reef restoration solution, discussed at this week’s Great Barrier Reef Restoration Symposium in Cairns, that is likely to be made a reality.
The final project will involve eight solar-powered “ReefMix” turbines installed across a 1 sqkm area of Moore Reef during the summer months. Project co-ordinator, the RRRC’s Dr Suzanne Long, said the monitoring equipment was obtaining data to dictate the final design of the water mixers, which were being built locally.
“We’re essentially establishing a test bed at Moore Reef, which hasn’t happened on the Reef before,” she said.
“This will hopefully enable a bunch of other projects to piggyback. “We’re not saying this is the total solution – it’s one of a range of tools being discussed (at the symposium).
“And it’s a great opportunity for Cairns to establish this test bed, just offshore.”
Water mixing technology, which is currently used in freshwater dams, aims to reduce coral stress at a local level by circulating water from up to 30m deep over coral, to cool it down and prevent bleaching.
During the most recent mass coral bleaching event in 2017, severe to moderate bleaching was reported across a 300km area offshore.