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Aquenal offers a comprehensive aquatic environmental assessment
service incorporating preliminary investigations and baseline studies,
development and
implementation of environmental monitoring programs, coastal GIS
mapping, and compilation of survey reports, impact statements and
management plans.
Environmental
surveying and assessment of marine, estuarine and freshwater habitats
and biological communities form the primary areas of our work. Extensive
in-house expertise enables Aquenal to provide an integrated service
suited to a wide range of multi-faceted environmental projects. Examples
of briefs previously undertaken in these areas are provided in our Work
History.
Aquenal also offers project management services to coordinate studies across
a wide range of ecological and related environmental issues.
Environmental services provided by Aquenal fall into the following broad categories:
Field
surveys and monitoring programs
Aquenal
has expertise in a diverse range of field surveying and monitoring
techniques. Aquatic surveys can be performed as independent field
assessments or as components of environmental risk assessments, compliance
programs, management strategies or research projects. Our services
include the following elements:
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Design of survey and monitoring programs to appropriate statistical and
compliance models
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Complementary literature reviews to facilitate survey design and collection
of comprehensive survey information
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In-situ surveying of marine, estuarine and freshwater biological and
ecological parameters, habitats and community distributions
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Sampling of aquatic flora and fauna
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Identification and taxonomy of fish, benthic invertebrates and aquatic flora
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Aquatic biodiversity assessment
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Avian and marine mammal ecological surveys
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Investigations of riverbed and seafloor characteristics and condition
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Water and sediment sampling and analysis
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Identification, assessment and monitoring of introduced species
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Surveying
and monitoring of threatened species
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Assessments
of correlations between biological and physico-chemical parameters
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Underwater video filming and still photography
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Underwater surveys, searches and inspections
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Bathymetrical and habitat mapping using Differential Global Positioning Systems Back
to top
Environmental impact assessments and management plans
Aquenal offers a comprehensive service for environmental impact and risk
assessment, including determination of legislative controls, background
field and desktop studies, impact and risk analysis and formulation
of appropriate management measures. In consultation with clients
and other relevant stakeholders, Aquenal uses these elements to devise
practical strategies and environmental management plans for mitigating
impacts on the environment.
Services provided by Aquenal for impact assessment and environmental management
include the following components:
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Assessment
of relevant State and Commonwealth legislative controls and international
agreements
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Database searches to identify sites, habitats and species of
significance within the study region
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Literature reviews and desktop studies to gather and present
background information, or performed as independent studies to
identify environmental risks and historical impacts
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Field surveys
and monitoring programs to collect necessary environmental
data
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Assessments of ecosystem health
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Identification of environmental values and areas of ecological
and conservation significance
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Conservation biology and threatened species management
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Invasion biology and pest management
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Oil spill and waste management
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Environmental risk and impact analysis for developments and industries
based on or near waterways
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Mitigation strategies to address risks to aquatic environments
and species
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Environmental management plans and strategies for sites, activities,
habitats and species of concern Back
to top
Introduced marine pest monitoring, technologies and management
Introduced marine pest assessment is an important area of Aquenal’s
work, and our skills and services in this field extend to both
tropical and temperate ports and other at-risk environments. Aquenal’s
services include the following aspects:
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Marine pest survey design
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Implementation of marine pest baseline and monitoring surveys
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Marine
pest laboratory identification
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Bio-fouling assessments and inspections
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Marine pest databases
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Management of marine pest reports, voucher
specimens and data
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Development of marine pest control and management
plans
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Review and development of technologies for marine pest prevention
and eradication response Back
to top
Coastal GIS mapping
GIS mapping is an integral component of Aquenal's work, with a range
of field- and computer-based technologies used for this aspect of
our work (refer to Equipment).
Aquenal's mapping
services include:
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Collection of field data on biological and environmental variables
for subsequent mapping or ground truthing of existing base
maps
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Accurate mapping of aquatic and coastal habitats and biological
communities
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Collation of environmental and biological data from
the literature to generate mapping layers
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Development of environmental
indices (e.g. values, pressures, uses and condition) mapping
layers as tools to be used in
coastal and
marine management. Back to top
Independent
and collaborative research and advisory services
Aquenal has an extensive research capacity, employing a number of highly
qualified aquatic scientists. We are therefore able to perform research
projects either independently or through collaborations with other
organisations. Research projects can be performed in collaboration
with industry groups, management agencies, museums, universities
and other research institutions. In addition, Aquenal provides an
advisory service to State and Commonwealth government agencies, industries
and other stakeholders seeking information on aquatic environmental
issues or input on draft policies and related regulatory documents.
Research and advisory capacities of Aquenal encompass the following areas:
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Implementation of independent marine, estuarine and freshwater
ecology research projects and avian ecological assessments
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Collection and preservation of biological specimens and water and sediment
samples for collaborative analytical studies
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Underwater filming and other aquatic surveys required as part of collaborative
studies
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Provision of species and habitat inventories based on literature reviews
and Aquenal database information
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Taxonomic
information based on a large biological reference collection
developed and maintained by Aquenal
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Critical appraisal of documents relating to aquatic environmental issues
and monitoring programs
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Advice to government and industry groups during preparation and assessment
of development proposals and regarding management of aquatic
environmental issues
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Assistance to government agencies, industry and other groups in the preparation
of environmental management plans and strategies, policies and
other regulatory documents Back to top
Coordination of community environmental
projects
Aquenal staff are experienced in environmental interpretation and
community-based activites, and can provide coordination services
for community environmental projects.
Services provided by Aquenal in this area include:
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Technical advice and support to groups involved in Natural Resource
Management (NRM) and other community-based projects
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Coordination of field and data collection activities performed by community
groups Back to top
Environmental project management
Aquenal provides management services for implementation of ecological and
related environmental studies required for impact assessments and
other investigations. The results relating to a broad range of issues,
such as terrestrial ecology, threatened species, aquatic ecology,
hydrology and water and sediment quality, are efficiently coordinated
and compiled to address whole-of-ecosystem questions.
Project management services offered by Aquenal include:
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Documentation of project issues and relevant studies
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Identification of suitable specialist sub-consultants
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Preparation of study scopes and briefs
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Management and coordination of sub-consultant studies
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Technical review and editing of sub-consultant reports
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Compilation of study summaries and integration of project findings across
specialist studies
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Collaboration with non-environmental specialists to allow coordination with
other aspects of project investigations Back to
top
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