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54 / THE OCEAN : BIODIVERSITY WHICH WE MUST PROTECT

ENCOURAGING BIODIVERSITY IN PORT ZONES

Biohut®, environmental

watchtowers in the Ports

of Monaco

Biodiversity is not just limited to natural and wild zones.

A port can also help. This is already the case in Monaco.

A NEW REEF OF LIFE

A Biohut is a nursery for coastal fish larvae. When groupers, bream, etc.
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lay their eggs, they are dispersed by the currents until they become larvae.
To develop, the larvae nest in small coastal areas which are significantly
affected by human activity. In fact, few manage to survive. Out of 600,000
eggs laid, only one or two will become adult fish!

The idea is to recreate a reef in zones inhabited or urbanised by humans. It
will offset the “concretisation” of areas by encouraging the growth of fauna
and flora.

These nurseries in ports provide a home and shelter for the larvae which
enter the ports. Designed using grids and oyster shells, they are protec-
ted from predators and can find food. These “cages” are then placed in
strategic and protected locations in the ports, under dock platforms or on
dams, and monitored. They should not impede boat traffic in any way. They
require maintenance each year.

Launched four years ago in the Principality, the Biohut were first tested
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in six other Mediterranean ports. As for today, seventeen ports are equip-
ped, including the two of Monaco. The Hercule port has 22 nurseries, and
Fontvieille port has 18.

The results are conclusive. Larvae grow and two times more abundance
and diversity are found in places equipped with Biohut . Life is settling.
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Thanks to the installation of ecological corridors, juvenile fishs leave the
Biohut safely and protected from predators. The port acts as a nursery
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again.