[Green Korea United] Independent Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) of Coral Communities Surrounding the Intended Site of the Gangeong Naval Base

[아름드리 나무]

This post is thanks to the Green Korea United. It is the PPT material on the summary on the Coral Communities Surrounding the Intended Site of the Gangeong Naval Base

, which is originally from the independent environmental impact Assessment sponsored by the Emergency Action Committee to Save Jeju, joined by international environment experts such as the Green Peace and Green Korea United. The independent environmental impact assessment carried out right before the World Conservation Congress (WCC) was an investigation on the two contents of relocation on the three endangered species and soft coral habitats in the Gangjeong village. It had a great role to expose to the domestic and worldwide. serious nature environment destruction due to the Jeju naval base project . Korean language material can be found HERE. Best gratitude to Dr. Imok Cha who was denied entryand deported on Sept. 4 for her active works to save the Jeju!

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Independent Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) of Coral Communities Surrounding the Intended Site of the Gangeong Naval Base

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Overview

This EIA was to independently assess the health and threats to the unique coral communities in the Gangjeong area, which are threatened by the construction of the Gangjeong naval base.

A field research was conducted on August 20-25th, 2012.

—The research includes the results of the underwater surveys of two sites immediately adjacent, east and west of the base construction site and a review of existing literature and reports pertaining the base construction and Jeju’s coral populations .

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Natural Monument No. 421 designated by Cultural Heritage Administration: around Munseom Islet and Tiger Islet

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Natural Monument No. 442 designated by Cultural Heritage Administration: Jeju soft coral communities

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Survey Sites

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Dive Survey Results

Site Description                    Gangjeong Lighthouse                 Rock E. of Construction

GPS Location                    33°13′326″N 126°28′829″E           33°13′657″N 126°29′777″E

% coral cover at 9 m                           16%                                       6.3%

% coral cover at 12 m                         34%                                       8.5 % 

Species or Genus                               Present                                    Present

Order Alcyonacea

Dendronephthya gigantea                      Yes                                         Yes

Dendronephthya putteri (1)                    Yes                                         No

Dendronephthya suensoni (1)                 Yes                                         No

Dendronephthya mollis (1)                     Yes                                         No

Scleronephthya gracillma                       Yes                                        Yes

Order Gorgonacea

Acabaria formosa                                      Yes                                        Yes

Euplexaura crassa                                     Yes                                        Yes

Calicogorgia granulosa                               Yes                                        Yes

Verrucella spp.                                         Yes                                         Yes

Order Antipatharia

Myriopathes japonica (1,2,3)                      Yes                                         Yes

Order Scleractinia

Montipora trabeculata (3)                           Yes                                         Yes

Alveopora japonica (3)                               Yes                                         Yes

Dendrophyllia spp. (3)                                Yes                                         Yes

Tubastrea coccinea (1,3)                             Yes                                         Yes

1. Korean Ministry of the Environment Endangered Animal or Plant; 2.  Protected by the Cultural Heritage Administration Natural Monument 456; 3.  Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II.

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Main Findings

•  Construction of the Gangjeong naval base will cause immediate death to thousands of endangered coral species by being crushed or smothered with sedimentation.

    

     • Long term sedimentation caused by the construction of the base will reduce food availability and increase stress to the coral populations leading to a decrease in coral recruitment and population health.

   

    • Release of heavy metals and other pollutants into the environment from dredging and filling activities will also stress and potentially kill corals in the areas surround the base.

    • Reduced and changed current patterns around the base will lead to the demise of the coral populations directly east and west of the seawalls.  In addition, changes to current patterns may alter water flow to ecologically important areas such and Train Rock and Tiger Islet.

   • Increases in concentrations of the biofouling agents TBT and copper can be expected with increased boat traffic in and out of the base.  These biocides inhibit invertebrate reproduction and larval settlement, including corals.

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    Main Findings

   •  Small and constant leakages of oils, fuels and other contaminants from machinery into the waters around the base can be expected.  Once dispersed by wave action these poisons can affect coral growth and survival. 

    •  Propeller wash from the constant large boat traffic in and out of base has a strong potential to cause physical trauma to ecologically important coral populations around Train Rock.

   • A total of 14 species of corals were found during this dive ranging from 0-15 m in depth. 

     

     • Of these 14 species, 8 are protected by national or international law.

     • Of particular interest was a dense grouping of the endangered D. putteri.

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 Coral Communities around Gangjeong Lighthouse

   ◀ Dendronepthya gigantea (top, purple color) and Scleronephthya gracillma (bottom, orange color).  The two most abundant members of the Alcyonacea.

     ◀  Calicogorgia granulosa found at both sites.

   •  Increased sedimentation and pollutants combined with current flow changes and trauma from propeller wash will decrease the coral populations and reduce biodiversity in the area.  In addition, coral populations will have a reduced ability to spread to new areas due to loss of habitat from sedimentation and lower reproductive success. 

   • A major oil leak from the base would cause long-term and possibly irreparable damage to the coral populations in the area.

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 ◀Tubastraea coccinea a CITES Appendix II listed species.

◀ Alveopora japonica a CITES Appendix II listed species.

  • A total of 11 species of corals were found during this dive ranging from 0-20 m. 

  • Of these 11 species, 5 are protected by national or international law.

  • Coral densities in the transects were not high, and at both depths, were dominated by the Scleractinian coral Alveopora japonica. 

 •Toward the end of the dive however a dense bed of S. gracillima was discovered stretching southward toward Train Rock, also known as the Coral Garden.

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  Recommendations

 

•Immediately stop construction as the base based on the threat to the populations of unique and endangered coral populations are the Gangjeong area. 

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• The Navy conduct another, more comprehensive EIA covering: the effects of heavy metals and other pollutants on coral populations; potential storm damage to the site, based on climate change predictions for larger storm activity in the future; and extra work that may need to be completed at the site in order to protect it from storm damage. 

•Do not attempt mitigation by transplanting corals to other areas, which will fail due to the complexity of the supporting environment required for the unique coral populations in the Gangjeong area.