In a world-first initiative, 18 habitat boulders have been installed along the rocky foreshore of Lavender Bay. This project aims to promote the thriving of local marine life through the creation of natural rockpools that enhance biodiversity in the area and has been possible thanks to the collaboration between Living Seawalls, North Sydney Council, the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) and Sydney by Kayak.
The Lavender Bay shoreline was made of natural stone around five years ago, but it lacked rockpools, a crucial habitat that provides refuge for marine organisms, protecting them from desiccation and predation. The new boulders have been designed to replicate natural rockpools and installed to encourage greater biodiversity in the area.
Over the next 12 months, Living Seawalls researchers will monitor the impact of these habitat enhancer boulders on the biodiversity along the Lavender Bay shoreline.
By assessing the effectiveness of this innovative project, the collaborators hope to inspire similar initiatives worldwide to enhance marine life and promote ecological sustainability.