Project BioRocks Sint Maarten | SXM Pilot

The island of Sint Maarten / Saint Martin has a unique aspect of being both Dutch and French, making this a very popular and thriving piece of land in the Caribbean Ocean. The underwater world however, has been degrading over the past yaers due to the global climate change, which is changing more rapid than the coral is able to adjust to. This is where Project BioRocks steps in! 

For the past few years we’ve worked hard on establishing local connections, partners and collaborations with organizations such as the Sint Maarten Nature Foundation, French Saint Martin’s La Reserve Naturelle, Ocean Explorers, SXM Divers, Aquatic Solutions and others. The partners may differ per location.

Furthermore, our work has been made possible thanks to our local sponsors McDonalds St Maarten, IGY Marinas St Maarten, Kooyman, The Dive Shop as well as our partners overseas such as Global Coral Reef Alliance and Gili Eco Trust. These collaborations have made it possible to start a pilot program in which we apply the latest technology on harvesting wave energy to start the electrolyte.

To better understand the project, its objectives and timeline, we have listed our project outlines below. 

 

Project Plan: BioRocks

Pilot: Coral Intervention Program

Project Overview:

BioRocks is a project aimed at implementing the Biorock technique, also known as the electrified reef technique, known for its accelerated coral reef restoration due to its electrolyte system. The project will involve building a small pilot case using this innovative method. The placement and maintenance of the biorock reef structure will be carried out by Team BioRocks, living on St Maarten, while data collection will be entrusted to local experts, such as the Nature Foundation. The ultimate goal of the project is to assess the effectiveness of the Biorock technique in coral restoration and use the outcomes to inform future efforts aimed at coastline protection and ocean regeneration.

Pilot case | The Taino Sun God

The centre piece of this artist impression will be located in Lay Bay at a depth of 4-5 meters deep. Powered with an electrolyte system using wave energy this will stimulate the coral growth and resilience in these heated times. Connecting the ‘Corals of opportunity’ this will be the perfect pilot for data collecting of the following:

3D visuals by Rico Soepenberg V3D

Project Objectives:

1. Construct a pilot case for coral restoration using the Biorock technique, ideally using wave energy.
2. Deploy and maintain reef structures in a designated area, this case Lay Bay, Pelican.
3. Collaborate with local experts to collect and analyze data on coral growth and reef health.
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of the Biorock technique in coral restoration.
5. Use findings to inform future efforts for coastline protection and ocean regeneration.
6. Test case the use of wave energy.
7. Measurement of bottom shifts
8. Evaluate the effect on other marine life 

Project Team:

• Project Manager | Ronald Duikersloot
• Biorock expert | Dr. Thomas Goreau of Globalcoral.org
• Marine Biologists | CresPR.org
• Divers | Ocean Explorers / SXM Divers
• Engineers | Aquatic solutions
• Partnerships Coordinator | Mick Walvisch
• Treasures | Ilana Sandelowski

 

Project Deliverables:

• Constructed biorock reef structures
• Data on coral growth and reef health
• Comprehensive project report
• Presentations to stakeholders and sponsors
• Strategy for scaling up the BioRocks project

 

Conclusion:

The BioRocks project represents a pioneering effort in coral reef restoration using the biorock reef technique. By conducting a small-scale pilot in Sint Maarten, and collaborating with local experts and stakeholders, we aim to gather valuable data and insights to inform future conservation efforts. Through rigorous planning, execution and evaluation we strive to contribute to the protection and regeneration of our oceans for generations to come.