In June 2017, UNSW Sydney hosted the 21st Presidents Meeting & CEO Summit "The Future of the Pacific and its Societies".

This meeting brought together leaders from the Association of Pacific Rim Universities network to discuss issues affecting our region and to develop strategies that can have a meaningful impact on our region's future.

To mark the occasion, the Operation Crayweed team planted a new underwater crayweed forest in iconic Bondi Beach on behalf of all APRU delegates.  

 
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Underwater mats were drilled into the bare ocean floor in May 2017 and crayweed plants from nearby reefs were transplanted to the new site in north Bondi in June 2017.

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Prior to planting, a series of underwater surveys were done to characterise biodiversity, so that changes that result from reintroducing crayweed can be adequately quantified.

We hope this new APRU forest will play an important part in the improvement of the local underwater habitat around Bondi.

We will be monitoring crayweed survival and associated critters and watching out for craybies by the end of 2017– watch this space for news on how the forest evolves!

Check out this VIDEO to watch how this new APRU crayweed forest came into being. Filmed and edited by the talented John Turnbull, a.k.a. Marine Explorer.