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Jones Bros relocates reef worms in coastal defence project
Cristina Lago Deputy Editor
The project is believed to be the world’s first reef relocation of this scale (Image: Jones Bros)
Jones Bros has relocated an entire shore-sized habitat of honeycomb reef worms as part of a coastal defence project in Wales.
The engineering company moved a large section of Sabellaria alveolata habitat after laying down around 1,000 tonnes of beach material to form the foundations at the now-complete Penrhyn Bay works.
Jones Bros placed 60,000 tonnes of locally sourced rock armour coastal defence at Penrhyn Bay earlier in the year
The project, which was delivered for Conwy County Borough Council and largely funded through the Welsh government’s coastal risk management programme, included procuring and importing around 60,000 tonnes of rock armour.
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A T-shape rock groyne was then constructed to reduce erosion and minimise the impact of stormy weather and flooding.
Jones Bros relocating the vast area of reef (Image: Jones Bros)
Jones Bros worked with Wales-based marine biological surveys specialist CloudBase Productions to rehome the big slabs of honeycomb worm. These were extracted from under the footprint of the new groyne, taken to their new habitat and positioned to preserve their original orientation and structure.
CloudBase Productions director Rohan Holt said: “There are plenty of signs of life, including big chunks of reef that have cemented themselves into their new resting place. These are joined by swarms of juveniles that actively seek areas ready-colonised by adults, as they transform from their planktonic stage.
“There is about 10-25% coverage, which should eventually merge with the nearby established material.
“As this is the first time a relocation of this scale has been undertaken, both Jones Bros and I are really pleased to see such promising results.”
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