Objectives
Monitoring Locations
General Requirements
·
Baseline
Survey / Coral Tagging Exercise
·
Impact
Monitoring Surveys
Baseline
Survey / Coral Tagging Exercise Methodology
· Blanched (i.e. paled)
· Bleached (i.e. bleached white)
Impact Monitoring Survey Methodology
Compliance
/ Action Event Action Plan
Table 6.1 Action and Limit Level for Coral Monitoring
Action Level
Definition |
|
Limit Level
Definition |
|
Reporting
Table 6.2 Action and Limit Level Exceedance Procedures for Construction Phase Coral Monitoring
Event |
ET Leader |
IC(E) |
ER |
Contractor |
Action Level Exceedance |
Step
1
- Compare results with water quality monitoring
results and repeat coral survey event within 2 days. If Action Level is still
exceeded notify AFCD. Step
2
- Inform the IC(E), ER and Contractor and discuss the most appropriate method
of reducing suspended solids during marine works (e.g. reduction of dredging
rate, increase effectiveness of silt curtain) Step
3
- Ensure mitigation measures are implemented and repeat survey after
mitigation measure enacted for confirmation of compliance. Step 4 - If non-compliance
continues, increase mitigation measures (Step 2) and repeat monitoring survey
measurements (Step 3). If
non-compliance occurs a third time suspend marine works. |
Discuss with ET and
Contractor on the mitigation measures; Review proposals on
mitigation measures submitted by Contractor and advise the ER accordingly; Assess the effectiveness
of the implemented mitigation measures. |
Discuss with IC(E) on the
proposed mitigation measures; Make agreement on the
mitigation measures to be implemented; Assess the effectiveness
of the implemented mitigation measures. |
Inform the Engineer and
confirm notification of the non-compliance in writing; Rectify unacceptable
practice; Check all plant and
equipment; Consider changes of working methods; Discuss with ET and IC(E)
and propose mitigation measures to IC(E) and ER within three working days; Implement the agreed
mitigation measures. |
Limit Level Exceedance |
Undertake Steps 1-3 immediately. If further
non-compliance continues at Limit Level, suspend marine works until an
effective solution is identified |
Discuss with ET and
Contractor on the mitigation measures; Review proposals on mitigation
measures submitted by Contractor and advise the ER accordingly; Assess the effectiveness
of the implemented mitigation measures. |
Discuss with IC(E) on the
proposed mitigation measures; Make agreement on the
mitigation measures to be implemented; Assess the effectiveness
of the implemented mitigation measures. |
Inform the Engineer and
confirm notification of the non-compliance in writing; Rectify unacceptable
practice; Check all plant and
equipment; Consider changes of working methods; Discuss with ET and IC(E)
and propose mitigation measures to IC(E) and ER within three working days; Implement the agreed
mitigation measures. |
Objectives
Monitoring Locations
General Requirements
Coral Recolonisation
Monitoring Methodology
·
Tier I will assess the relative cover of major benthic groups and
substrata
·
Tier II will provide an inventory of sedentary/ sessile benthic taxa,
which are also ranked in terms of their abundance in the community inside the
belt transect.
Table 6.3a Tier 1 benthic attribute categories
Ecological
Attributes |
Substratum
Attributes |
||
|
Hard Coral |
|
Bedrock |
|
Dead Standing Corals |
|
Boulders |
|
Octocorals (soft corals and gorgonians) |
|
Cobbles |
|
Anemone Beds |
|
Rubble (Shell/dead coral fragments) |
|
Other Benthos (sponges, zoanthids, Ascidians, bryozoans etc.) |
|
Mud/silt |
|
Macro-algae |
|
Table 6.3b. Tier I ordinal ranks of percentage cover of benthic
attributes
Rank |
Percentage
Cover |
0 |
None recorded |
0.5 |
1-5% |
1 |
6-10% |
2 |
11-30% |
3 |
31-50% |
4 |
51-75% |
5 |
76-100% |
Table 6.4. Taxonomic resolution of inventory
Type of Benthos |
Taxonomic level
of identification |
Scleractinian corals |
Species level, wherever possible |
Octocorals, anemones, conspicious macro-algae |
Genus level |
Others (such as sponges, zoanthids, ascidians etc.) |
Genus level or phylum level with description on
the growth form and other characteristics |
Table 6.5 Ordinal ranks of taxon abundance
Taxon Abundance Rank |
Abundance |
0 |
Absent |
1 |
Rare |
2 |
Uncommon |
3 |
Common |
4 |
Abundant |
5 |
Dominant |
Reporting
[1] EM&A progammes involving coral monitoring during dredging or cable
laying activities include:
Civil Engineering Department (2001) Focused cumulative water quality
impact assessment of sand dredging at the West Po Toi Marine Borrow Area
CLP Power (2002)
Environmental consultancy services for the proposed 132 kV cable circuits from
A Kung Wan to Sai Kung Pier
Hong Kong and China Gas Company (2003) The Proposed Submarine Gas Pipelines from Cheng Tou Jiao Liquefied Natural Gas Receiving Terminal, Shenzhen to Tai Po Gas Production Plant, Hong Kong
[2] DeVantier, L.M., G. De’ath, T.J. Done and Turak, E. (1998). Ecological Assessment of a Complex Natural
System: A Case Study from the Great Barrier Reef. Ecological Applications
8:480-496.