A major scientific project is set to rewild and restore the unique marine habitats of Sydney Harbour, with UTS scientists diving in to help.
Project Restore is taking a world-first approach to restoring our delicate local marine eco-systems – installing living seawalls, replacing seagrass-damaging moorings, restoring kelp fields and creating new fish and seahorse habitats.
Delivered by the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), the project is drawing on the scientific know-how of academics including Professor David Booth, of the UTS School of Life Sciences. He has well-known expertise in habitat restoration and building ‘seahorse hotels’.
“Urban development has removed more than half of Sydney Harbour’s natural shoreline and degraded the rich marine ecosystems that have been home to seahorses, penguins, turtles and much more, says Professor Booth.
“THROUGH PROJECT RESTORE, WE’RE TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO BRINGING BACK MANY OF THESE SPECIES AND ENHANCE THE HABOUR FISH HABITATS THAT SUPPORT THEM.”
– PROFESSOR DAVID BOOTH
Professor Martina Doblin, Chief Executive Officer of SIMS and team leader in the UTS Climate Change Cluster, says the project draws together several of their flagship conservation initiatives.
“We already have the building blocks in place to achieve this with our marine restoration work, and this project brings all that together,” she says.
“The cutting-edge science we’re using will hopefully become a template for seascape restoration through NSW and further abroad.”
Project Restore is being supported by the NSW Government with $4.5 million in funding committed through the NSW Environmental Trust. It is part of the NSW Government Seabirds to Seascapes initiative.
