DIVING INTO REEF RESEARCH – OLIVIER

Coastal engineering graduate Olivier Duperray recently returned from the beautiful, pristine waters of Southern Leyte in the Philippines where he has been surveying marine resources as part of a volunteer research programme.

Coordinated by English organisation Coral Cay Conservation, I spent one month on site assisting the local government to identify potential areas warranting marine protection.

With concerns that fish numbers and sizes have been decreasing in the area, my team and I surveyed the region for species of coral, fish and invertebrates. With a large part of the local population relying on the fishing industry as both a source of food and income, we needed to carefully consider how my team relayed our findings.

As well as conducting the actual surveys, we were also required to liaise with the local government and members of the fishing community to reach solutions that would help protect marine resources without destroying the livelihood of the locals.

This project was a fantastic opportunity for me and the experience I gained will undoubtedly help me in my future environmental projects with Aurecon – especially in matters of marine conservation.

I spent my first two weeks on site completing a series of marine science courses to help me identify local species. Passing a series of exams meant I was familiar with the local environment and qualified to perform the research.

Since my return I ran a series of presentations on behalf of Aurecon's coastal engineering team for colleagues interested in learning more about reef and environmental conservation.