BBC Look North local news bulletin…..
Artecology is supporting a groundbreaking ecoengineering project run by Groundwork North East and Cumbria to install a wide array of artificial rock pools and fish refuges in Whitby Harbour. The aim is to boost sea life and improve water quality while studying the most successful artificial additions for marine life. The project has received funding from the Environment Agency and the government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
Environment Agency Project Manager, Allison Pierre, said the hope was to allow nature to "thrive above and below the water" and that creating artificial habitats would provide an opportunity for nature to thrive while supporting improvements in water quality. We are proud to support this project and believe it will lead the way for similar projects in other estuaries, helping communities reconnect with their local rivers and supporting the ecological health of our rivers.
Nigel George, the Director of Artecology Research & Development at Arc Biodiversity & Climate, praised Groundwork North East & Cumbria's work for its significant impact on several levels. He acknowledged the astonishing scale and number of ecoengineering and nature-based solutions that the organisation is testing across multiple sites in North Yorkshire and Northumberland. He also commended their use of innovative hybrid nature-based solutions sourced from different parts of the world, including Living Seawall Panels from Australia, and modular fish nursery habitat and floating habitats by UK based Biomatrix. In addition, he highlighted the brand new wildlife habitat designs from Artecology studios in the UNESCO Isle of Wight World Biosphere Reserve.
Habitat installers ‘Swiftwater Solutions’ with examples of Biomatrix and Artecology intertidal wildlife habitats. Photo by Revitalising our Estuaries.
Nigel further emphasised the significance of Groundwork's fieldwork and data collection, led by their 'Revitalising our Estuaries' team. He believes that this effort will play a critical role in de-risking the rapidly growing ecoengineering industry sector for harbour owners, port authorities, environmental regulators, and infrastructure developers. He added that they will all be able to follow Groundwork's lead, not just in the UK but across the world.
Groundwork NE’s Project Leader Matt Machouki with an Artecology fish refuge habitat. Photo by Revitalising our Estuaries.
As part of the project work in the Northeast, Artecology has recently delivered a series of ‘Artecology CoCreate’ training workshops to staff at Groundwork’s Middlesbrough facility. Our CoCreate story can be found here!