Kwajalein Echo Pier Coral Relocation

Sea Engineering Inc (SEI) was contracted by Kwajalein Range services, LLC (KRS) to carry out translocation services of coral colonies and mollusks. The level of effort was set at 5,000 coral colonies.

The underwater relocation services included one major task:

Remove easily movable non-encrusting corals (those with robust 3-D morphology as opposed to flat encrusting and fragile corals) and mollusks. Translocate to suitable relocation areas outside of the project’s region of influence.

Prior to removal of corals, a diver-biologist enumerated all corals on each wharf. In addition, prior to coral removal, and following coral removal the areas of each of the wharves were recorded by constructing a series of photomosaic composite photographs.

The team effectively relocated all easily removable UES-consultation species on all vertical surfaces and within the 40-foot buffer area that could be relocated as viable colonies. In addition, the team also effectively relocated all easily removable primary UES-coordination species on all vertical surfaces that could be relocated as viable colonies. The inclusion of a photographic technique that provided the ability to view the entirety of the wharf area from which corals were removed was proved to be very useful in providing a permanent record of the work areas.

11,292 coral colonies were translocated from the Pier to relocation areas within the atoll.