Skip to main content
Article
Ecological Design of Marine Construction for Socio-Economic Benefits: Ecosystem Integration of a Pipeline in Coral Reef Area
Procedia Environmental Sciences
  • Sylvain Pioch, Egis Eau Co. (CDC Group) - Montpellier, France
  • Philippe Saussola
  • Kirk Kilfoyle, Nova Southeastern University; Universite Montpellier - France
  • Richard E. Spieler, Nova Southeastern University; Universite Montpellier - France
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2011
Keywords
  • Coast,
  • Ecosystem services,
  • Mitigation,
  • Artifical habitat,
  • Ecological engineering,
  • Restoration,
  • Marine biodiversity
Abstract

It is critical to understand that an ecosystem integration of construction requires a close Engineering/Biology partnership to meet socio-economic benefits in management goals. Biologists are not typically trained or licensed for the requisite engineering involved in construction. Likewise, non-biologists designing habitat often can lead to egregious results. For example, unintentionally constructing the wrong habitat, i.e., refuge for predators in a nursery area, or habitat that facilitates the spread of non-desirable species can increase, rather than ameliorate, the impact of construction. In recent years, Pioch and co-workers (unpublished) developed an alternative to the “classic” engineering approach to marine construction. This new approach, of construction “integrated in ecosystem”, is now operational or in the planning stage for marinas, harbours, seawalls, dykes and pipelines. We will present the example of Mayotte project (France, West Indian Ocean) in 2008 established a 2,600 m underwater pipe line for around US $8.8 million (6.8 M€), linking “Grande Terre” to “Petite Terre” island, in a coral lagoon (marine protected area).

DOI
10.1016/j.proenv.2011.11.023
Comments

©2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Under a Creative Commons license

Citation Information
Sylvain Pioch, Philippe Saussola, Kirk Kilfoyle and Richard E. Spieler. "Ecological Design of Marine Construction for Socio-Economic Benefits: Ecosystem Integration of a Pipeline in Coral Reef Area" Procedia Environmental Sciences Vol. 9 (2011) p. 148 - 152 ISSN: 1878-0296
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/richard-spieler/43/