Project Location:Qeshm(26.9777280-56.1676030)-Nikshahr Sistan(29.4083380-60.8972170)-
Yakhkesh Behshhr(36.636395-53.585815)-Fereydonkenar(36.6496170-52.4432370)
Project Background

The success of the SGP Artificial Reef Project; IRA-G52-2001-005, is that the innovative technology has combined scientific studies with the local knowledge and hence the design of the model is in consideration of the local capability and availability of local resources. However, as agreed in the NSC meeting dated 12 July 2005, an Environmental Impact Assessment is required before a replication strategy is established. To this end the Salakh Local Community is asking an expert team headed by Dr. Vahid Yavari from an independent scientific entity, Khoramshahr University of Science and Technology, to conduct an EIA on the artificial reefs produced and submerged in the SGP project. The results of this study will be posted on the project website for public access.


Introduction:

The designed artificial reefs (AR) are man made structures that imitates the appearance and function of natural coral reefs. AR structures vary in size, thickness and height, so that each module is different for various goals and applications.


ARs are developed and deployed for immediate action on environment protection and enhancement. Coral reefs are the most diverse of all natural ecosystems. Their contribution to marine biodiversity is enormous and the resources they produce are vital for coastal communities. The scientific reports indicate that ARs can produce significant amount of biomass and if long-lasting, appropriately deployed and scientifically managed, are useful tool for restoring the reefs systems to a natural and productive balance. In addition it can provide more opportunities for study and research to develop our knowledge and understanding of our local marine environment, promote recreation fishing activities, tourism development and protection of beaches from erosion.


The Port of Salakh is considered as the most important fishing port of Qeshm Island. This port is situated on the southern coast of the island and annual landings amount to about 20% of the total landings of the island (IFO, 2003). The fishermen community of Salakh have noticed the declining catches and this decline has also been reported by the Iranian Fisheries Organization (IFO). Based on a five year (1986 - 2001) scientific study conducted in the area a decline of 16% to 73% in catches of important commercial species has been reported by IFO, 2003.


The significant decline in catches which obviously is due to alarming reduction in natural resources, has led the Council of Salakh Village (CSV) try to obtain assistance of UNDP- GEF/SGP and Bureau of Environment of Qeshm Free Area (BOE ? QFA) in rehabilitation of the natural resources by implementing scientific techniques. Based on the desire of the local community a pilot AR was deployed in the coastal waters of Salakh in September, 2004. After about one year of deployment of AR, preliminary underwater observations show settlement of various marine fauna and flora. This apparent success has encouraged all parties involved in the project to expand their activities to other areas of the Qeshm Island. However, based on the principals of development activities in nature, it is proposed to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study of the project before any expansion and further development action is taken.


Scope of the study:

Now that appropriate decisions on further development of the AR project are to be made by the local community (which have their livelihood at stake) and other partners like UNDP-GEF/SGP and BOE-QFA (with major responsibility), it is proposed to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study of the project before any expansion and further development action is taken. The strategy of the EIA is based on the numerous questions that come to mind. Some of the major questions which are mentioned at this stage are as follows:

· What is the present status of natural resources?

· Based on the status of the natural resources reported by the fisheries authorities, is development of the project justified?

· What is the socio-economic status of the Salakh community and how dependent is it on natural resources?

· Is the project scientifically acceptable?

· Is the project legally acceptable?

· Is the project design, construction and deployment methods appropriate?

· Is the site selected suitable?

· What are the possible user conflicts?

· What are the possible geomorphologic impacts of the project?

· What are the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the AR project and its surroundings after one year?

· How similar or different is the AR project compared to a natural coral reef and a sandy sea bed of the region?

· Is the AR developing into a producer or an attractor reef?

· What is the present level of production and/or attraction?

· What are the possible future secondary impacts of the project?

· Is the food-web established in the AR complete?

· Dose the AR has any other potentials uses except rehabilitation and enhancement of natural resources?

· What are the possible impacts of the project on socio-economic status of the local community?

· How is the scope for development?

· Does the project require any monitoring programme?

· What are the possible mitigation measures?


In order to answer the raised questions the study will follow standard methodology and procedures recommended for EIA. The information required for EIA will be collected by desk top studies (existing information), field observations (qualitative information/data) and field survey of the AR project site and its surroundings (qualitative and quantitative information/data). Two control/reference sites of different nature also will be subjected to field observation and survey. At all the stages of the EIA study indigenous knowledge and experience of the local community will be fully utilized.


The study area will include two AR project sites A and B deployed in the coastal waters of Salakh. At each site of A and B about 80 Artificial Reef Pyramids(1m3) were deployed at 10m depth occupying a rectangular (about 100 x 20m) area parallel to the coast. Site A was set up in Sep. 2004 (one year old) and site B in April 2005 (six months old). The pilot artificial reefs (Sites A and B) are about 500m apart and the only variable is the age. As was mentioned earlier the study area will not be restricted to sites A and B (two patches of ARs), it also includes two similar size natural ecosystems namely a coral reef as Site C and a sandy/muddy bed as Site D, located at a close proximity to the AR projects main sites. In simple words AR pilot projects will be compared to an ecosystem (sandy/muddy bed) which once (a year ago) was similar to it and with a natural fully developed coral reef. The amount of information that could be collected are enormous, therefore, resources will be focused on important aspects and valued EIA components.


The study will be conducted by a team consisting of Khoramshahr University of Marine Science and Technology (KUMST) experts in various fields, representatives of Council of Salakh Village (CSV), local community, UNDP-GEF/SGP, BOE-QFA, and authorities of Fisheries and Department of Environment of Qeshm Island. The strategy of the EIA is to attract the participation of maximum numbers of stakeholders in the implementation of the study. Fortunately, the authorities of Fisheries Organization and the Department of Environment Qeshm Island have already expressed their will to participate and cooperate.


The duration (time-line) of the EIA study will be six months (Oct. 2005 to Mar. 2006). The EIA will be conducted mainly in two phases (Phase I and Phase II). In the Phase I detail qualitative and quantitative study will be carried out at all the four sites (A to D) in the month of Oct. 2005.The detail information collected during Phase I study will form the major data base of the EIA. However, since many of the components particularly the ecological ones are influenced by seasonal changes, a Phase II study will be conducted bimonthly (Nov. 2005 to Mar. 2006) to record and incorporate the effects of seasonality in the EIA. The collection of existing information on various other components of the EIA will be carried out through out the six months study period.


The data and information collected will be tabulated, presented in graphs, maps and analyzed using standard statistical techniques. Based on the results of data analysis the AR project will be evaluated and assessment of impacts presented in a clearly described Environmental Impact Statement (ESI).


Prior to commencement of the EIA study, the detail work plan will be subjected to screening by all the parties and stakeholders involved. During the course of the study appropriate mitigation measures will be identified and suggested. Based on the nature of the findings suitable monitoring programs will also be pointed out.


Baseline Information and Study Methods:

The baseline information required for the EIA and brief description of methods, which will be followed for collection of these information on various components of the EIA are as follows:


· Present status of the natural resources in the area: Since the main objective of the AR project is enhancement of natural resources, a thorough knowledge of the present status of these resources is a must. The present status will be analyzed based on the existing information, sources of which will include the local community and fisheries organization. A scientific status of the natural resources could be an important justification for expansion or otherwise termination of the AR project. The activity will be carried out in the initial three months of the study.

· Socio-economic status of the local community: Detail information on socio-economic status of the local community and that how related or dependent it is on the natural resources is of importance. Since natural resources is main objective of the AR project, a thorough understanding of the correlation between natural resources and socio-economic status of the local community particularly for secondary impact assessments is required. The socio-economic status of the local community will be analyzed using the existing information, and the probable secondary impacts of the AR project on this component, based on the overall results of the study, will be presented in the final EIS.

· The legal status of the AR project: Another important baseline information required before any decisions on expansion are made is the legal component of the project. Existing related national legislation will be reviewed and legal views on the project highlighted. The existing international policies and legislation regarding the project will also be reviewed and presented in the final EIS. Their possible implication on expansion, mitigation and monitoring activities of the project will be clearly stated in the ESI.

· The structural characteristics of the AR project: The structural characteristics of the AR project or in other words size, design, material and construction of the AR can directly effect the rate of success of the project. The recent studies on AR show that the structural characteristics influence the mode of development of an artificial reef. The structural characteristics have to be decided based on the goals of the project. Taking into consideration the importance of the characteristics of AR and in order to evaluate the structures used in the Salakh AR project a thorough review of the scientific reports on the subject will be carried out. The methods followed in the construction of the Salakh AR will be assessed based on the collected information.

· Site selection of the AR project: Another component which plays a vital role in the impacts and its success is selection of appropriate site for deployment and sustainable development of the AR project. Site selection is related to various factors which include geomorphology of the coast, location, physical, chemical and biological characteristics and type of substratum. Since the main objective of the AR project is enhancement of natural resources, it is beyond the scope of this study to carry out any quantitative survey on geomorphologic features of the coast and this receptor component will be assessed based on the existing information and field observations. Other physical, chemical and biological components of the study sites will be recorded using standard qualitative and quantitative ecological methods. More information on the ecological assessment methods are presented in the following sections. Based on the results of mentioned studies the status of AR project site will be assessed and presented.

· Ecological characteristics: Taking into consideration the main objective (enhancement of natural resources) of the AR project, the ecological components attain the most important status in the EIA study. The ecological components considered for this study are the biological, physical and chemical characteristics of the study sites and their surroundings. The ecological components of the study are as follows:

1. Benthic epifauna of hard substratum: The benthic epifauna of the four study sites (A to D) will be sampled and analyzed using line/belt transect quadrate quantitative technique. In order to sample the four rectangular shaped study sites , at each site three transect lines will be set up along the length (parallel) and located in the center, seaward edge and shoreward edge. The transect lines will be ~ 10m apart from each other. In order to assess the surrounding areas of the sites two parallel transect lines (one towards the shore and another towards the sea) will be set up at a distance of 10 to 20m from the main rectangular shaped sites. Therefore, totally five transect lines will be set at each of the four study sites which now on will be referred to as TL1, TL2, TL3, TL4 and TL5. Three sampling stations will be set at a distance of ~30m apart on each of the transect lines. Therefore, for each of the study sites there will be 15 sampling stations for benthic epifauna studies. Quantitative samples will be collected using quadrate and scuba diving method. The samples like corals will be observed and recorded in the field, and other less sensitive organisms will be carefully collected. The collected samples will under go an initial sorting in the field, transferred to appropriately labeled containers containing suitable fixative. The sorted and fixed samples will be placed in bigger boxes and transferred to laboratory for further analysis. The described sampling operation is part of Phase I study and will be conducted in the month of Oct/Nov. 2005. The results of quantitative analysis of samples will provide valuable information on species composition, abundance, population structure and distribution. The biomass, condition index and maturity stages of the key species will also be analyzed and recorded.

In order to obtain information on seasonality effects, in the Phase II of the study five fixed stations (3 in the site and 2 in the surroundings of each site) will be set up at Sites A and B. The fixed quarters (stations) will be monitored and conditions recorded bimonthly (Dec. 2005 and Feb. 2006). The fixed stations will be monitored, photographed and conditions recorded by scuba diving.
2. Benthic infauna of soft substratum: These groups of organisms occupy the soft substratum of the study sites and play an important role in the successive development of the artificial reefs. The food chain and web is dependent on this group of organisms. The infauna of all the sampling stations located on the transect lines TL1 to TL5 will be sampled and analyzed using quantitative Grab/Core sampling technique. In the Phase I study the infauna sampling will be carried out at all the four study sites (A to D). The collected samples will subject to initial sorting and transferred to labeled containers containing suitable fixative. The fixed samples will be transferred to laboratory for detail analysis. The results of the analysis will provide information on species composition, abundance, population structure and distribution. The biomass of the key species will also be analyzed and recorded. The Phase I sampling will be carried out in Oct/Nov.2005.

In order to analyze the seasonal effects on infauna of study sites A and B, in the Phase II of the study 1/3 of the infauna sampling stations described above will surveyed and analyzed in the month of Feb.2006. Similar sampling and analysis methods described in the phase I will be followed in the Phase II.
3. Plankton: The major primary producers in the sub-tidal ecosystems like the coral reefs are the planktons. Planktons are free swimming or floating organisms consist of phytoplankton, zooplankton and icthyoplankton. The populations of planktons are not as stable as benthic organisms and their concentration fluctuates in time and space. In order to study the plankton community of the water column over and adjacent to the four study sites (A to D) quantitative samples will be collected using standard plankton nets equipped with current meter. Triplicate horizontal tows will be conducted over each of the study sites and two tows will be carried out on the surrounding areas of each site. Therefore, in the Phase I of the study 20 phytoplankton samples, 20 zooplankton samples and 20 icthyoplankton samples will be collected from all the four study sites (A to D) in Oct. 2005. The collected samples will be transferred to labeled containers with suitable fixative and transported to laboratory for further analysis. The results of plankton studies will provide adequate information on species composition, abundance and distribution. It will also provide valuable information on recruitment pattern.

The plankton community is highly subjected to environmental variations and seasonality therefore, in the Phase II of the survey 60% of the sampling stations of study sites A and B will be subject to bimonthly monitoring. The plankton sampling in Phase II will be conducted in the months of Dec. 2005 and Feb. 2006 following the standard methods described above.

4. Fish: The fish surveys are complex and influenced by various characteristics of the fish population and communities, including distribution, size and mobility, population dynamics and migration. The methods which will be followed include direct underwater observations and recording in the predetermined zones of the study sites. Underwater photography and film recording will be part of the direct survey. In addition to direct observations in the predetermined zones of the study sites (A to D) sampling stations will be set up and mobile epifauna, demersal and pelagic species of fish will be sampled using traps, hand nets and set nets. Therefore, in the Phase I of the study each site will be divided into five zones (3 zones in the site and 2 zones in the surroundings) and by direct observation and capture sampling devices surveyed in Oct/Nov. 2005. The collected samples will be photographed in the field, fixed and transferred to the laboratory in labeled containers for further analysis. The results obtained will provide information on fish species composition, abundance, distribution, population structure, health, reproduction and site productivity. Preliminary information will also be obtained on CPUE at each of the study sites.

In the Phase II, which aims at recording of seasonal effects, bimonthly survey following the similar methods as in phase I will be conducted in six zones of study sites A and B. The Phase II survey will be carried out in the months of Dec. 2005 and Feb. 2006.

5. Environmental Parameters: Environmental parameters which include the physical and chemical characteristics of the water and sea bed of the study sites, play an important role in the status of the biological components. The water parameters considered for the present study include: Temperature, Salinity, pH, Dissolved Oxygen (D.O), Turbidity, Visibility, Chlorophyll-a and Micronutrients (nitrate and phosphate). The sea bed parameters include: Soil Texture and Total Organic Matter (TOM). In the Phase I of the study, in order to record/sample water and sea bed parameters five sampling stations (3 in the site and 2 surrounding) will be set up at each of the study sites (A to D). Recording/sampling of water parameters will be carried out in the month of Oct/Nov. 2005.

In the Phase II of the study six stations at study sites A and B will be sampled bimonthly to study the same environmental parameters mentioned above. Phase II study will be conducted in Dec. 2005 and Feb. 2006. In both phases of the study standard methods will be followed for sampling/recording and analysis of environmental parameters.


Impact Assessment and Predictions:

Though Artificial Reefs are generally considered as a positive development and impact on marine ecosystem, recent experiences and studies show that not all projects have progressed as per their initial plan and goals and in number of cases have created significant negative impacts. Therefore, appropriate assessment based on scientific qualitative and quantitative data is essential for development of such projects.

Artificial Reefs have proved to be highly design and site specific and some of the reasons that indicate they must be viewed with concern are listed below:

· Possible negative impact on shoreline.

· Possible physical damage to the coastal ecosystems.

· Possible user conflicts, including local fishing.

· Possible low or no development of important biological communities.

· Possible development into an attractor reef and subjecting the already stressed natural resources to more stress, which in some conditions can even lead to extinction.

· Possible suitable inoculation site for introduction of marine invasive species, which could have devastating ecological, economical and even human-health impacts.

· Possible negative impacts on water quality.


All the significant impacts posed by the proposed project will be assessed based on the environmental characteristics of the site and its surrounding. A descriptive and quantitative analysis of the impacts of the project will be made and presented.

Mitigation:
Mitigation measures aim to avoid and minimize the predicted adverse impacts of the project on the environment and also adverse effects of environment on the project development. As the study progresses and knowledge of the nature of the project and its surrounding increase, appropriate mitigation measures will be formulated and suggested.

Monitoring:
Taking into consideration the complex nature of the AR project and possible seasonal effects of fluctuating environmental conditions on the project, a monitoring programme is essential for recording of such variations. As was mentioned earlier and described in baseline information section, a monitoring programme will be carried out in the Phase II of the study.
Short and long term monitoring programme will also be suggested, which could be carried out by Master and Ph.d students of marine sciences.