TASPORTS has announced it is partnering with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies to develop living sea walls for port infrastructure.
PHD students from IMAS can apply to undertake a three-year research project, supported by TasPorts, to develop a bespoke eco-engineering solution to mitigate threat from invasive marine species in Tasmanian ports
The first of its kind in Tasmania, the project will aim to promote biodiversity while mitigating potential colonisation from invasive marine species.
This will be achieved through living seawalls, panels that mimic “microhabitats”. These provide marine creatures and seaweeds with habitat to colonise and grow, including crannies and crevices that serve as refuge.
Crucially, the panels will create habitats that enhance native biodiversity and are less favourable to invasive species.
TasPorts acting chief executive Trent Burke said port infrastructure can serve as biodiversity “hot-spots”, and if not managed sustainably can inadvertently attract invasive species and allow them to breed and spread, and believes eco-engineering to be the solution.
“Not only can living seawalls help native species to thrive, they also play a role in improving water quality,” he said.
“The panels are uniquely designed to mimic a variety of natural shoreline habitats, encouraging seaweed to grow and to serve as a refuge to local marine species.”
The PHD student’s research will include topics including but not limited to; identifying native and invasive species inhabiting artificial structures local to the Port of Hobart, determining their environmental tolerances, and developing and field testing an engineering prototype.
Living seawalls have been successfully introduced in locations across Australia and overseas, including Sydney, Port Adelaide, Townsville and Fremantle, as well as in Singapore and Wales.
Application details are available on the University of Tasmania website. The successful applicant will be identified by the end of the year, with the project to commence in 2025.
