Supplemental Environmental Assessment
Document

East Micronesian Cable (EMC) Project
Marine Benthic Ecological Assessment
Shallow Waters Associated with the Lelu
Harbor cable alignment - Kosrae

December 2019

Prepared by FSM CIU Safeguard Advisor - Marine Ecologist
Specialist

The Marine Ecological Assessment is a document of the borrower. The views expressedherein do not necessarily represent those of WB’s Board of Directors, Management or staff,
and may be preliminary in nature.
In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any
designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, theWorld Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any
territory or area.

Acronyms
BMH
CIU
COT
EMC
ESMP
EMP
FD
FSM
GPS
km
m
m2
ME
MPA
SCUBA
SD
SA
TOR
WB
WWII
UXO

Beach Man HoleCentral Implementing Agency
Crown of Thorn Starfish
East Micronesian Cable
Environmental and Social Management Plan
Environmental Management Plan
Free Dive
Federated States of Micronesia
Global Positioning System
Kilometers
MetersMeters squared
Marine Ecologist
Marine Protected Area
Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
SCUBA Dive
Safeguard Advisor
Terms of Reference
World BankWorld War Two
Unexploded Ordnances

List of Figures
Figure 1:
Figure 2:
Figure 3:

Figure 4:
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Figure 14:
Figure 15:

Location of the Submarine Cable entering Lelu Harbor and terminating
at Sanskrit School.
Micronesia Eco-Divers staff involved in the marine assessment of theKosrae Island cable alignment, Lelu Harbor.
The location of the marine assessment survey sites including the 6
Dive Sites (SD) and the 3 specific Free Dive coastal reef systems (red)in relation to the Lelu channel and proposed cable alignment (not toscale).
The location of the 6 intertidal reef transects in relation to the Lelu
channel and the proposed cable alignment (not to scale).
Natural ecological systems associated with Lelu Harbor.
Bathymetric plate showing the location of the shipwrecks and planes
within Lelu harbor.
Location of the four Free Dive benthic marine assessment sites within
Lelu Harbor associated with the proposed submarine cable alignment.
Southern reef slope wall located within the Lelu channel Free Dive Site
1.
Seabed Substrate associated with FD Site 1 (a) and FD Site 2 (b).
Examples of large massive hard corals located within FD site 1 and FD
Site 2.
Hard coral colony examples located within the spur and groove
formations within the subtidal reef edges of FD Site 1.
Hard coral live coverage for the subtidal upper (a & b) and lower (c &d) reef slope for FD Site 1.
Hard coral live coverage for the subtidal upper (a & b) and lower (c &d) reef slope for FD Site 2.
Hard coral diversity located at FD Site 1 (a & b) and FD Site 2 (c & d).
Examples of marine macro algae located within the shallow reef areas

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 20192

Figure 16:
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associated with FD Site 1 and FD Site 2.
Echinoderms (a, b & c) and Mollusks (d) located during the marine
assessments of FD Site 1 and 2.
Anthropogenic material and garbage located during the marine
assessment at FD Site 2.
Seabed Substrate associated with FD Site 3.
Examples of large massive hard corals located within FD Site 3.
Hard coral colony examples located within the within the subtidal reef
crest and edges of FD Site 3.
Hard coral live coverage for the subtidal upper (a & b) and lower (c &d) reef slope for FD Site 3.
Hard coral diversity located at FD Site 3.
Examples of marine macro algae located within the shallow reef areas
associated with FD Site 3.
Parrot fish (a) and COT starfish (b) feeding scars and hard coralmortality (c & d) located during the marine assessments of FD Site 3.
Anthropogenic material, rubbish(a & b) and decommissioned
aquaculture structures (c & d) located during the marine assessment at
FD Site 3.
Seabed Substrate associated with FD Site 4.
Hard coral colony examples located within the intertidal and subtidal
reef flat of FD Site 4.
Hard coral colony examples located within the subtidal reef crest andedges of FD Site 4.
Hard coral colony examples located within the subtidal reef slope
systems for FD Site 4.
Hard coral diversity located at FD Site 4.
Examples of marine macro algae located within the shallow reef areas
associated with FD Site 4.
Starfish (a), hard coral mortality (b) and hard coral damage or disease
located during the marine assessments of FD Site 4.
Location of the six SCUBA dive marine benthic assessment sites.
Representative benthic substrate photos of the six dive assessment
sites; SD 1 (a), SD 2 (b), SD 3 (c), SD 4 (d), SD 5 (e) and SD 6 (f).
Representative benthic coral rubble and reef fragments associatedwith the lower reef slope and seabed interface within Lelu harbor andchannel.
Location of the six transects assessment sites.
Representative photos of the different substrate types located on theintertidal reef flat systems adjacent to the submarine cable alignment
within Lelu harbor and channel.
Representative photos of the marine resources located on the intertidal
reef flat during the transect assessment of the northern and southern
reefs adjacent to the Lelu harbor channel.
Location of the project submarine terminal end – Beach Man Hole.
Shoreline (a & b) and benthic substrate associated with the submarine
cable terrestrial landing site.
Sunken vessel adjacent to the submarine cable landing site.

List of Tables
Table 1:
Table 2:

Length (m) and area (m2) of each transect undertaken during themarine assessment.
Location and summary description of the six SCUBA Dive Sites (SD 1,

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 20193

Table 3:

2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) undertaken during the marine benthic substrateassessment within Lelu Harbor.
Location (GPS), linear length (m), total area (m2) and summary
description of the six intertidal reef flat transect sites (TR 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6) undertaken during the marine benthic assessment within Lelu
Harbor.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 20194

Table of Contents
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................. 6
2.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 11
2.1 Background .........................................................................................................................11
2.2 Marine Baseline Assessment .........................................................................................12
2.3 Methods ................................................................................................................................12

3.0 MARINE SITE DESCRIPTION (GENERAL) OF THE LELU HARBOR............. 15
4.0 MARINE BASELINE ASSESSMENT – RESULTS .................................................. 18
4.1 Lelu Harbor Intertidal and Subtidal Reef Marine Assessment ..........................18
4.1.1 Free Dive Sites 1 and 2 ............................................................................................................. 19
4.1.2 Free Dive Site 3 ............................................................................................................................ 26
4.1.3 Free Dive Site 4 ............................................................................................................................ 32
4.2 Benthic Dive Site Assessments (DS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) within Lelu Harbor and its
Reef Channel............................................................................................................................................. 38
4.3 Benthic Reef Flat Transect Assessment Sites (TR 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) either sideof Lelu Harbor Reef Channel. ............................................................................................................ 41
4.3.1 Submarine Cable Landings Site – Beach Man Hole ...................................................... 46

5.0 POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATED
WITH THE SUBMARINE CABLE ALIGNMENT - DEPLOYMENT .......................... 49
5.1 Key Findings of the Marine Assessment ....................................................................49
5.2 Key Environmental Impacts ..........................................................................................52
5.3 Potential Impact Mitigation Measures .......................................................................52

6.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................................... 54

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 20195

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe Government of Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has received assistancefrom the World Bank through a grant “East Micronesian Cable” (EMC) project toprovide a submarine telecommunication fibre optic cable to the state of Kosrae. The
Kosrae cable will be a branch line connected to the EMC and enter the natural
harbor of Lelu located on the eastern side of Kosrae Island.
This report provides a detailed assessment of the shallow water marine benthic
ecosystem and resources associated with the agreed submarine cable deploymentalignment for the island of Kosrae. The supplementary information detailed in thisreport is to be read in conjunction with the East Micronesian Cable (EMC) projects
existing Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and as suchinformation detailed in the ESMP is not repeated herein. Information detailed by thisassessment has been incorporated as required into the projects originalEnvironmental Management Plan (EMP) to further strengthen the environmental
management of the submarine cable deployment.
A marine baseline survey assessment was undertaken on the marine benthic abiotic
and biotic habitats (intertidal and subtidal) and marine resources (vertebrate andinvertebrate) within and adjacent to the proposed submarine cable alignment
entering Lelu channel and terminating at Sanskrit school on the southern side of Lelu
harbor. The assessments undertaken were divided into three separate marine areas,
which include:a. The marine benthic assessment of the intertidal and subtidal benthic
ecosystems associated with the reef systems adjacent to the proposed
submarine cable alignment corridor which includes four free dives sites;b. The marine benthic assessment of the sea substrate (floor) within the channel
and harbor along the proposed submarine cable alignment corridor which
includes the six SCUBA dives site; andc. The marine benthic assessment of the intertidal reef flat ecosystems locatedon the northern and southern reefs adjacent to the Lelu harbor channel,
which includes the six transect sites. This section also includes a brief
description of the submarine cable proposed landing site.
The marine assessment was undertaken in November 2019 using a combination of
SCUBA diving, free diving (snorkeling) and reef walking (transects) qualitative andquantitative benthic habitat and resource assessment scientific visual survey
methods.
Six SCUBA dives were undertaken (maximum water depth 45 m) within Lelu harborand channel which were located in close proximity of the proposed cable alignment.
An area of 5 m2 of the sea floor was assessed for each dive. Four (4) distinct
intertidal and subtidal free diving marine reef areas were assessed in full. Free diving
sites were undertaken on the southern and northern fringing reef systems associatedwith the Lelu channel and on the southern side of the patch reef located within thecenter of the harbor in close proximity to the channel covering a total combined
assessed area of 3.74 hectares (ha). Six (6) benthic transects were undertaken fromthe shoreline to the outer reef edge, four and two transects undertaken on thesouthern and northern intertidal reef systems respectively within Lelu harbor. Total
linear length of 1.4 km and a total area assessed of 0.56 hectare for all transect
combined. All transects were undertaken during low water with the majority of theEast Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 20196

reef system exposed during the assessment. In addition, the shallow water marine
environment associated with proposed terrestrial land site was visually assessed.
The northern and southern coastal waters adjacent to the Lelu channel and outerharbor possess an extensive and dynamic intertidal and subtidal coral reef
ecosystem. This includes an expansive shallow water intertidal reef flat that is
exposed during low spring tides and contain extensive healthy sea grass beds, adistinctive outer reef crest and edge possessing spur and groove systems in thesouthern and northern outer reef margins and upper and lower reef slopes thatposses a steep vertical decline through to the seabed. Within the Lelu channel thereef slope on the southern side is almost vertical with a distinctive reef wall.
Significant and diverse hard coral percent coverage, morphological form and species
abundance are found predominately on the reef edge through to the lower reef slopeof all sites assessed. Higher hard coral species diversity, abundance and variety ofmorphological forms were recorded within the Lelu channel than within the harbor
reef systems. These parameters decrease rapidly once the harbor is entered.
The benthic substrate associated with the proposed cable alignment within Lelu
channel and southern side of the harbor is relatively homogenous and almost
exclusively dominated by soft substrate sediment composed of coral sand andterrigenous fine silt. Levels of silt on the sea floor increase further into the Lelu
harbor. The substrate is devoid of sessile invertebrates, however supports in areas ahealthy population of mobile burrowing marine worms. The key marine assessment
findings include:
The Marine Substrate (sea floor):
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The seabed substrate associated with the proposed submarine cable alignment
path is relatively homogenous throughout the area assessed, has a range ofwater depth between 14 and 45 m and is characterized by a bottom layer ofcoarse sand derived from terrigenous and coral reef origins with a fine silt top
layer.
The presence of coral fragments, rocks and bounders associated with the sea
floor within the proposed cable alignment direct area of influence are rare andmost likely buried due to sedimentation deposition.
The depth of the silt layer decreases towards Lelu harbor channel and is
replaced predominately by sand towards the center of the channel and beyond,however fluctuations in the depth of the sediment sand silt layer and resulting
water turbidity is directly related to tidal and weather conditions prevailing at any
given time.
The relatively high level of suspended silt and sand based substrate located at
all assessment sites has a significant detrimental effect on the ability of sessile
benthic marine resources to settle (recruit) and survive in these area.
No sessile (non motile) benthic invertebrate species were recorded at any of the
deepwater substrate dive assessment sites located within the proposed
submarine cable alignment pathway.
Mobile benthic invertebrates and vertebrates (including finfish) recorded very low
population and species numbers throughout the areas assessed. Marine worm
(Polycheate) burrows were located at all dive assessment sites. These
invertebrate resources are highly mobile and adaptive to environmental
disturbances. As such these invertebrates would be expected to relocate if thebenthic substrate and sediment profile is impacted.
Anthropogenic garbage, machinery parts and infrastructure equipment werelocated on the sea floor in all assessment sites.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 20197Ø

There is a possibility of Unexploded Ordnances (UXO) associated with the sea
floor within the cable alignment pathway. The likelihood of their presences in
unknown. Investigations should be undertaken.

The Reef Systems:
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There are no coral reef systems nor hard coral communities located within the
projects direct Area of Influence.
Coral reef systems are located within the projects potential indirect area ofinfluence. These reef systems are healthy and maintain diverse invertebrate
benthic resource assemblages and are located on either side of the Lelu
channel, along the margins of the outer sections of Lelu harbor and patch reefs
within the harbor and as such are adjacent to the proposed cable alignment.
These coral reef systems include a distinct zonation; shallow water intertidal reef
flat that is exposed during low spring tides (varying in width 75 m – 280 m eitherside of the channel), subtidal reef flat (varying in width 10 - 30 m), distinctive reefedge and crest (3-10 m width), and upper and lower reef slope (5-10 m width)
which for the most part have a vertical drop of between 30 - 80% (the southernside of Lelu harbor is almost vertical wall) that terminates directly onto a sand silt
dominated seabed with depths ranging between 8 m in close proximity to the
BMH through depths in excess of 45 m within the Lelu channel.
Coral fragments, rocks and boulders are located in close proximity to the reef
systems. They are all but absent within the channel and harbor associated withthe proposed cable alignments area of influence.
All reef sites assessed possessed a well developed intertidal and shallow water
subtidal coral reef ecosystem.
Hard coral percentage live coverage, morphological form, species diversity andabundance in general were similar throughout the sites assessed reflected thenatural environmental forces affecting the different reef locations. A generaldecrease in these coral parameters was recorded from the entrance to the Lelu
channel through to the inner harbor.
The channels southern reef system recorded higher hard coral percent
coverage, species diversity and a larger range of morphological forms than thenorthern channel reef site. Both channel sites recorded considerably higher live
reef parameter levels that those recorded within the harbor patch reef andsouthern harbor reef margins in close proximity to the cable landing site (BMH).
The cable marine landing site is devoid of a hard coral reef system rather isdominated by a sand silt benthic substrate that does not support benthic sessile
invertebrate or vertebrate populations.
Hard coral percent live coverage for the northern and southern channel reef
systems for the intertidal reef, reef crest and edge and reef slope varied between
0-2 % and 0–2%, 0-10 % and 0–25%, and 5-80 % and 10–50%, respectively.
The patch reef assessed recorded 0-10%, 0-15%, 5-25% coverage for the above
parameters.
Hard coral sub massive and massive (e.g. Porities sp., Favites sp., Monitipora
sp., Lobophyllia sp., Goniopora sp.) and to a lessor degree digitate (e.g.
Acropora sp., Pocillopora sp., Porities sp.), small branching (e.g. Acropora sp.,
Pocillopora sp, Millepora sp), encrusting (e.g. Acropora sp., Echinophora sp.,
Turbinaria sp.) and solitary (e.g. Fungia sp. and Heliofungia sp.) morphologicalforms dominated the subtidal reef flat, reef edge, crest and upper and lower reefslope at all assessment sites.
The large sub massive and massive hard coral “bommie or coral head”
morphological forms (predominately Porities sp.) were abundant at all sites
accessed with a number of large colonies in excess of 4 m circumference
located along the southern channel reef slope.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 2019

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Both remnant and newly recruited hard coral colonies of varying sizes werelocated at all sites, albeit at a lower level within the patch reef, providing direct
evidence of natural hard coral recruitment is active in these areas.
There was an absence of soft corals at all sites assessed.
The intertidal reef systems either side of the channel extending into the harbor
possessed extensive and healthy sea grass beds dominated by two species(Enhalus acrorides and Thalassia hemprichii). No sea grass was recorded within
the area of influence of the proposed submarine cable alignment.
Marine macro algae density, coverage and diversity recorded low densities at allsites with the largest percent coverage recorded within the subtidal reef flat on
top of the patch reef within the harbor. The dominant macro algae recorded at allsites was several species of calcium carbonate green algae (Halimeda sp.),whilst the patch reef possessed healthy densities of the green algae (Caulerpa
racemosa) commonly known as sea grapes.
The inner shoreline sections of Lelu harbor support an extensive and diverse
mangrove forest, however these trees are well outside of the projects direct orindirect area of influence and no impacts are expected from the projects
activities.
Finfish population numbers and species diversity was low at all sites assessed.
Species that were present were juveniles and include reef dwelling plankitvores(small fish), herbivores (e.g. Acanthuridae, Scaridae) and there was a noticeablelack of predator reef fish.
Very low numbers of reef associated invertebrates (apart from corals) wererecorded at all assessed sites. Those that were recorded have no or little
subsistence or commercial value (e.g. non commercial sea cucumbers).
Reasonable levels of rubbish (e.g. plastic and glass bottles), machinery and oldequipment were located on the substrate throughout the marine areas assessed.
These should be removed.
Several adult individual Crown of Thorns starfish (COTS) and their distinctive
hard coral feeding scars were located during the assessment. The southern reef
system recorded the highest numbers (5), however as these species are cryptic
and generally nocturnal it is likely that the population on these reefs is higher
than recorded during the assessment.
There was no hard coral bleaching, however there was small scale evidence ofdisease associated with the hard coral communities at both the northern channel
reef and patch reef assessment sites.
5 marine green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were recorded swimming within thechannel and outer harbor during the assessment. These individuals were sub
adults and were most likely foraging on the reefs. These animals are highly
mobile and as such they would not be negatively impacted during the
deployment of the cable. There has been no recorded turtle nesting on the
shoreline beach of Lelu harbor for well over 4 decades.
There were no threatened, endangered or endemic hard coral species locatedduring the assessment, nor any State, national or international endangered orprotected species (apart from the turtle discussed above).
There are no marine or coastal designated marine protected areas or areas ofsignificant biodiversity within or in close proximity to the proposed submarine
cable alignment. The patch reef assessed has been discussed by the state
government as a potential site for fisheries management area but has yet to beformally designed. It is expected that the deployment of the submarine cable will
have no direct or indirect impact on the benthic resources associated with thispatch reef system.
The proposed cable alignment will not impact any State or National sites ofcultural, customary or heritage significance. The historical plane and vessel
wrecks are located well outside the proposed cable alignment.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 20199ØThe benthic substrate associated with the proposed cable alignment isdominated almost exclusively of sand and silt benthic substrate and as such thebenthic habitat within the project direct area of influence can be considered tohave very low habitat and ecological value to the marine ecological systems of
Lelu harbor and surrounding marine ecosystem.

Potential Impacts: The impacts derived from the marine scope of works are
expected to be very minor, localized to the immediate footprint of the works, andeasily managed through standard engineering good practice mitigation measures.
There are no threats to the area’s marine and coastal biodiversity associated with the
project. As such the potential impacts of the works on the marine environment areconsidered to be minor, temporary, mitigatable and overall insignificant.
Mitigation Measures: Recommended mitigation measures during the construction
phase of the project should include; (i) Deploy silt curtain/s around the termination
location (shoreline adjacent to the BMH) of the submarine cable during all
construction and redevelopment activities to directly manage and reduce thedispersion of benthic substrate (silt) disturbed during construction, and (ii) Ensure
due diligence when operating machinery during all work activities to prevent andmanage petrochemical spillage and contamination of the waters associated with the
project.
The overall potential impact of the works on the marine biological environment is
expected to be minor, localized and overall insignificant provided standard mitigation
measures associated with good engineering practice as identified above are
implemented. Furthermore due to the nature of potential minor impacts of the scopeof works it is recommended that no specific marine monitoring program is required
other than close supervision of the works to ensure that the above recommended
mitigation measures are implemented and effective throughout the marine
construction works.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201910

2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 Background
This report provides a detailed assessment of the shallow water marine benthic
ecosystems and resources associated with the agreed submarine cable deploymentalignment for the island of Kosrae. The supplementary information detailed in thisreport is to be read in conjunction with the East Micronesian Cable (EMC) projects
existing Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and as suchinformation detailed in the ESMP is not repeated herein. Information detailed by theassessment has been incorporated as required into the projects originalEnvironmental Management Plan (EMP) to further strengthen the environmental
management of the deployment of the cable.
The submarine cable will originate from a southern branch line from the Pohnpei to
Kiribati cable line located to the northeast of Kosrae. The agreed submarine cablealignment for the island of Kosrae is to enter the natural deep water reef passage
and channel through the islands outer barrier reef entering Lelu harbor and thenfollow the channel veering south and enter the shallow subtidal and intertidal waters
on the southern side of the harbor. The cable will terminate on the southern shorelineat the Sanskirt school (5019’13.27N and 163001’33.04E), which is located onreclaimed state government land (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Location of the Submarine Cable entering Lelu Harbor and terminating at
Sanskrit School.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201911

2.2 Marine Baseline Assessment
A marine biological and non-biological baseline assessment was undertaken on themarine biomes associated with the intertidal and subtidal reef habitats and benthic
substrate within Lelu harbor and channel associated with the proposed cablealignment. The in water visual field assessment and benthic profile data provides
supplementary biological baseline data for the projects ESMP and has been utilized
to update the projects EMP and safeguard requirements for the construction phaseof the project.
The marine assessment was undertaken in November 2019 using a combination of
SCUBA diving (SD), free diving (FD - snorkeling) and reef walking (transects)
qualitative and quantitative benthic habitat and resource assessment scientific visualsurvey methods.
Six (6) SCUBA dives, four (4) free dive areas and six (6) intertidal reef transect site
assessments were undertaken and as such are described in separate results anddiscussions sections below.
The area assessed included the inshore marine environments located within an
extended area of influence of the submarine cable predicted alignment all of which
are associated with the natural Lelu channel and harbor. This included the outerbarrier reef, outer and inner channel, subtidal and tidal lagoonal reef areas and thecables terminal location on the shoreline adjacent to Sanskrit School.

2.3 Methods
The marine resource and ecological assessment utilized standard and acceptableinternational marine biological methods (English et al., 1997) and was performed by
CIU Safeguard Advisor (marine ecologist) with assistance from staff from thecommercial dive company “Micronesia Eco-Divers” based in Kosrae (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Micronesia Eco-Divers staff involved in the marine assessment of theKosrae Island cable alignment, Lelu Harbor.

Free diving (snorkeling) and SCUBA diving scientific visual survey methods were
employed to assess and provide a general description of the shallow and deep water
reef systems and benthic habitats/sea floor respectively, associated with the Lelu
harbor. The marine assessment’s in-water field activities were completed between
Tuesday the 12 and Thursday the 14th of November 2019.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201912

The marine assessment included a qualitative and quantitative habitat and resource
assessment of the existing coastal intertidal and subtidal marine environments
associated with the Lelu harbor. Data collected included water depth, percent live
coral cover, reef condition, dominant benthic forms, dominant hard coral genus andmorphological forms, marine algae (turf, macro), sediment types and physicaldescription including water movements/currents. Digital photos were taken of key
biological features (biotic and abiotic) and a Global Positioning System (GPS)coordinates recorded for each dive location and reef system assessed.
In total, six SCUBA dives (SD 1-6, refer Figure 3) were undertaken during theassessment. All dives were undertaken within the Lelu harbor and channel andlocated within the proposed cable alignment throughout the harbor. Dive depths
ranged from 14 m (SD 6) through 45 m (SD 5). The benthic SCUBA assessment
included documentation (written and photographic) of the substrate and living
resources within a 5 m2 area in close proximity to the dives substrate entry point.
There were no dives undertaken in the offshore area of the reef channel due todepths greater than safe diving limits.
Four (4) distinct intertidal and subtidal free diving marine reef areas (Free Dive 1 - 4)
covering a total assessment area of 3.74 hectares (37,400 m2) were assessed in full(refer Figure 3). Free diving sites were undertaken on the southern (FD 1 and 2),
northern (FD site 3) reef systems associated with the Lelu channel and on thesouthern side of the patch reef located within the center of the harbor in close
proximity to the channel.
The free diving assessments varied in water depth between 1-10 m. The shallow
water assessments included documentation (written and photographic) of the reefbenthic habitats for the subtidal reef flat, reef crest, reef edge and upper and lower
reef slopes at all locations. The shallow water reef assessments were undertaken
during low water on incoming tides to maximize water clarity. Total area surveyed in
hectares for the four individual free dive site locations include: FD 1 (1.96), FD 2
(0.42), FD 3 (0.65) and FD 4 (0.71).
In addition, six (6) benthic transects were undertaken from the shoreline to the outerreef edge, four (1 - 4) and two (5 and 6) transects undertaken on the southern andnorthern intertidal reef systems respectively within the Lelu harbor (refer Figure 4).
Linear length in meters and total area assessed (4 m width) were recorded for eachtransect. Table 1 provides the length and total area assessed for each transect. Alltransects were undertaken during low water with the majority of the reef system
exposed during the assessment.
Table 1: Length (m) and area (m2) of each transect undertaken during themarine assessment.
TR1
TR2
TR3
TR4
TR5
TR6
Length m
500
280
320
70
70
160
2
Area m
2,000
1,120
1,280
280
280
640

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201913

Figure 3: The location of the marine assessment survey sites including the 6
Dive Sites (SD) and the 4 specific Free Dive intertidal and subtidal reef systems(red) in relation to the Lelu channel and proposed cable alignment (not toscale).

Figure 4: The location of the 6 intertidal reef transects in relation to the Lelu
channel and the proposed cable alignment (not to scale).

The marine ecological and biological resource assessments are described for the
Lelu harbor reef systems and benthic substrate habitat below.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201914

3.0 MARINE SITE DESCRIPTION (GENERAL) OF THE LELU HARBOR
Lelu Harbor is located on the eastern side of the island of Kosrae directly adjacentand south of the small island of Lelu. The natural harbor is accessed through a deep
water (averages depth greater than 50 m) natural reef pass that enters a small
distinct reef channel (approximately 600 m in length and 200 m wide), bordered northand south by an intertidal fringing barrier reef system (average width of 230 m) thatpossess a vertical outer reef slope wall and opens into a tidal bay that covers an areaof approximately 180 hectares (1.8 km2).
Lelu harbor is boarded to the north by the small volcanic island of Lelu (includes thehistoric Lelu ruins), west by an extensive healthy mangrove system (predominately
Rhizophora sp.) that includes a number of small freshwater streams and a distinct
southern foreshore that includes isolated pockets of mangroves. A large stream
system is located in the northern eastern corner of the harbor that up to recent times
discharged and received oceanic water from an opening onto the reef north of theharbor. Several large patch reefs are located within the harbor that supports healthy
hard coral communities on the top and reef slopes. Live coral coverage decreases
considerable further away from the channel due to high levels of siltation andperiodic freshwater inputs.
Lelu Island and the harbor’s northern and southern foreshore areas have undergone
extensive reclamation and alteration over the past century resulting in significant
alteration to the natural environment, although the mangrove forests to the west
remain relatively intact. The construction of a causeway between the island of Lelu
and the mainland shoreline on the northern side of the island in the 1960’s has
greatly reduced the natural water circulation patterns within the harbor and as aresult sediment deposition within the harbor especially either side of the causeway
has been significantly altered. This has had a significant negative effect on thenatural marine and coastal ecosystem within the harbor (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Natural ecological systems associated with Lelu Harbor.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201915

Lelu harbor has extensive coral reef systems throughout the outer portion of the bay,which slowly decreases further into the harbor and is replaced with sand and mud/silt
associated with the mangrove areas. The harbors benthic substrate is predominately
composed of sand-mud in all areas outside of the reef systems. The harbor is tidally
influenced with an average daily tidal height fluctuation of 1 m.
Lelu harbor has no marine protected areas although the small subtidal patch reef inthe center of the harbor has been discussed as a potential marine managed –fisheries protected area (refer Figure 5), however is yet to be finalized and gazetted.
A small concrete dock is located on the southern side of Lelu, which is used as asecondary dock for the state and services domestic vessel periodically (inter island
vessels). Several permanent small boat moorings are located within the western
portion of the harbor for visiting yachts however these are well outside the proposedarea of influence of the submarine cable alignment.
The harbor includes three known shipwrecks, one of which was sunk in the mid
1830’s (a whaler) and a second bombed and sunk during WWII, two aircraft and arange of anthropogenic debris. The shipwrecks and planes (Figure 6) are positionedon the northern side of the harbor and as such are outside of the proposed
submarine cable alignment.
Figure 6: Bathymetric plate showing the location of the shipwrecks and planes
within Lelu harbor.

During WWII Lelu Island and harbor shoreline was targeted by the US air force andreportedly received up to 40 tons of aerial bombs that resulted in extensive physicaldamage to the island itself with the harbor waterfront buildings, wharf and docks all
demolished. 15 tons of bombs were dropped during a period of 8 days (17th- 24th) in
February 1944. During this period it is reported that the Japanese cargo ship “EbonMaru” was targeted within the harbor and sunk. This vessel remains were it was sunkwithin the harbor (refer Figure 6), northwest and well outside of the proposed
submarine cable alignment.

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Due to the WWII activities there is the potential that Unexploded Ordnances (UXO)
resulting from WWII aerial bombing of Lelu Island and surrounding harbor waters
may be present buried within the seabed. Due diligence needs to be undertaken
when laying the cable to prevent inadvertent contact with UXO. Consideration of an
UXO assessment of the final submarine cable alignment should be considered.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201917

4.0 MARINE BASELINE ASSESSMENT – RESULTS
This section details the baseline survey results for the marine benthic habitat andresource (intertidal and subtidal) assessment undertaken within and adjacent to the
proposed submarine cable alignment within Lelu harbor. The assessment results anddiscussions are divided into three separate sections, which include:§§§

Section 4.1, the marine benthic assessment of the intertidal and subtidal
benthic ecosystems associated with the reef systems adjacent to the
proposed submarine cable alignment corridor which includes four free divessites;
Section 4.2, the marine benthic assessment of the sea substrate (floor) within
the channel and harbor along the proposed submarine cable alignment
corridor which includes the six SCUBA dives site; andSection 4.3 the marine benthic assessment of the intertidal reef flatecosystems located on the northern and southern reefs adjacent to the Lelu
harbor channel, which includes the six transect sites. This section also
includes a brief description of the submarine cable proposed landing site.

4.1 Lelu Harbor Intertidal and Subtidal Reef Marine Assessment
The information detailed below describes the biological (biotic) and non-biological(abiotic) marine resource baseline assessment survey undertaken on the reef
systems to the south (Free Dive 1 and 2), north (Free Dive 3) of the Lelu channel andthe small patch reef located west of the channel within the outer harbor (Free Dive 4)(Figure 7). These assessment sites fall outside of the projects direct Area of
Influence, however are located within the proposed indirect Area of Influence andmay be impacted, albeit at a low level by the project activities. As such there are noor limited expected significant environmental impacts on these reef systems and theirresources associated with the proposed deployment of the submarine cable project.
Figure 7: Location of the four Free Dive benthic marine assessment sites
within Lelu Harbor associated with the proposed submarine cable alignment.

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The northern and southern coastal waters adjacent to the Lelu channel and outerharbor possess an extensive and dynamic intertidal and subtidal coral reef
ecosystem. This includes an expansive shallow water intertidal reef flat that is
exposed during low spring tides, a distinctive outer reef crest and edge possessing
spur and groove systems in the southern and northern outer reef margins and upperand lower reef slopes that posses a steep vertical decline through to the seabed.
Within the Lelu channel the reef slope on the southern side is almost vertical with adistinctive reef wall (Figure 8). Hard and soft coral populations are foundpredominately on the reef edge through to the lower reef slope of all sites assessed.
Higher hard coral species diversity, abundance and variety of morphological forms
were recorded within the Lelu channel than within the harbor reef systems. These
parameters decrease rapidly once the harbor is entered.
Five sub adult marine green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) were located within the
Lelu harbor (2) and the channel (3) whilst the assessment team was moving within
the area during the marine assessment. It is suggested that these individual wereactively foraging for food along the reef slope. Anecdotal information throughliterature search and personal communications indicated that no species of sea turtle
has nested on the shoreline of the Lelu channel or harbor in recent times. It isreported that turtles have nested at these sites however form the information glean
the last known case of a turtle nesting was in the late 1970 – early 1980’s.
Figure 8: Southern reef slope wall located within the Lelu channel Free Dive
Site 1.

Four distinct intertidal and subtidal free diving (snorkeling) marine reef areas (FreeDive 1, 2, 3 and 4) were assessed in full. The free diving assessments varied inwater depth between 1-10 m and covered a total area surveyed of 3.74 hectares.
The total areas surveyed in hectares for the four individual free dives site locations
include: FD 1 (1.96), FD 2 (0.42), FD 3 (0.65) and FD 4 (0.71). These are described
separately below.

4.1.1 Free Dive Sites 1 and 2
Free Dive Site Coordinates:
Site 1: (East: 5019’25.97”N 163002’05.94”E) (West: 5019’27.57”N 163001’54.04”E).
Site 2: (East: 5019’27.32”N 163001’53.50”E) (West: 5019’22.01”N 163001’47.66”E).
The southern side of the Lelu channel was divided into two assessment sites (FDSite 1 and FD Site 2) (refer Figure 7). FD Site 1 includes the subtidal reef area
associated with the entire southern side of the Lelu channel, whist FD Site 2 is a

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201919

western extension of this site and includes the subtidal reef system located on thesoutheastern side of the inner harbor towards the submarine cable landing site.
The southern reef assessment sites include a distinctive intertidal and subtidal
fringing coral reef system characterised by a benthic substrate profile that is relatively
homogenous throughout the surveyed area. The sites include an expansive intertidal
reef flat (refer section 4.3 for full assessment description) that is exposed during low
spring tides, a small relative flat subtidal reef flat (10-20 m in width), a distinctive reef
crest and reef edge (4-8 m in width), a short upper reef slope (4-8 m width) that has asteep descent (40-60 degree) which is more pronounced within FD Site 1 and alower reef slope that continues steeply (almost a vertical wall in the outer sections ofFD site 1 – towards the open ocean – refer Figure 8) that terminates directly onto asand/slit/coral rubble dominated benthic substrate sea floor. Coral rubble and small
coral fragments are located throughout the reef slope and directly below the living
coral on the lower reef slope of both sites assessed, however due to high level ofsedimentation associated with these sites it is envisaged that larger coral fragments
deposited onto the sea floor during inclement weather conditions are covered (Figure9). The subtidal reef system is more comprehensive and considerably deeper at FD
Site 1 (40 m) than FD Site 2 (15 m). These reef zones support healthy hard coral
communities, however hard coral diversity and percent coverage increases fromwest to east with highest hard coral results obtained towards the ocean side of thereef channel. Soft coral populations are noticeably scarce.
Figure 9: Seabed Substrate associated with FD Site 1 (a) and FD Site 2 (b).

FD Site 1 recorded considerably higher hard coral live coverage, coral diversity andmorphological form diversity than FD Site 2. Resulting in remnant and newly
recruited hard coral colonies and associated marine resources in this area.
The reef flat and deeper areas of the subtidal reef flat were all but devoid of hardcoral colonies (only isolated small hard coral colonies were located), whilst the reefedge, crest and the upper and lower reef slopes recorded live hard coral coverage,
diversity, abundance and diverse morphological growth forms throughout the reefareas assessed. In general, these parameters remained consistent throughout theareas assessed with the lowest parameters recorded in the western margins (FD Site2) of the assessment sites within the harbor.
Hard coral percentage live coverage for all reef areas was considerably higher at FD
Site 1 than FD Site 2 with the highest percent coverage and diversity of coral species
recorded along the southern channel reef slope. Throughout both assessment sites awide range of hard coral colony size was recorded and there were noticeable signsof different cohorts and species of small hard corals clearly indicating that natural

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coral recruitment is occurring. A significant number of large massive coral heads(bommies) were recorded several in excess of 4-5 m circumference (Figure 10).
Figure 10: Examples of large massive hard corals located within FD site 1 andFD Site 2.

Live coral percent coverage associated with the inshore subtidal reef areas (reefcrest and edge) for both sites ranged between 0 - 10 % for FD Site 1 and 0 – 2 % for
FD Site B. Hard coral percentage coverage was recorded highest in areas thatpossessed the spur and grove reef formations towards the eastern side of FD Site 1(Figure 11). In addition these areas recorded extensive areas of encrusting coralline
algae coverage.
Figure 11: Hard coral colony examples located within the spur and groove
formations within the subtidal reef edges of FD Site 1.

Hard coral live percentage coverage for the reef slope was considerably higher at FD
Site 1 than FD Site 2. Live hard coral percent coverage associated with the upper
reef slope (3-8 m water depth) ranged between 10 – 80 % for FD site 1 and 5 – 50%
for FD Site 2, whilst hard coral percentage coverage for the lower reef slope (8- 20m) ranged between 15-50% for FD Site 1 (Figure 12) and 5 – 35% for Free dive site
2 (refer Figure 13).

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201921

Figure 12: Hard coral live coverage for the subtidal upper (a & b) and lower (c &d) reef slope for FD Site 1.

Figure 13: Hard coral live coverage for the subtidal upper (a & b) and lower (c &d) reef slope for FD Site 2.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201922

Hard coral morphological forms (size, structure) throughout both sites assessed wererelatively homogenous and reflect the ecosystem parameters within the area. Hard
coral species diversity and morphology remained similar in each of the reef zones
throughout each of the assessment sites. Hard coral sub massive and massive (e.g.
Porities sp., Favites sp., Monitipora sp., Lobophyllia sp., Goniopora sp.), digitate (e.g.
Acropora sp., Pocillopora sp., Porities sp.), small branching (e.g. Acropora sp.,
Pocillopora sp, Millepora sp), and to a lesser degree encrusting (e.g. Acropora sp.,
Echinophora sp., Turbinaria sp.) and solitary (e.g. Fungia sp. and Heliofungia sp.)morphological forms dominated the reef systems at both assessment sites. The large
sub massive and massive hard coral “bommie or coral head” morphological forms(predominately Porities sp.) and to a lesser degree colonies of the branching fire
coral Heliopora coerulea sp., (blue coral) (see Figure 12 b) increased abundance
within the upper and lower reef slope at both sites (Figure 14).
Figure 14: Hard coral diversity located at FD Site 1 (a & b) and FD Site 2 (c & d).

Soft coral colonies (e.g. Lobophytum sp., Sarcophyton sp., Sinularia sp.) andanemones and their associated clown fish were rare at both FD sites 1 and 2.
Marine macro algae were located at both assessment sites predominately within theshallow marine waters associated with the reef crest, edge and upper reef slope.
Macro algal population densities and species assemblages were similar at each sitewith a number of brown algae (Sargassum sp., Padina sp.), calcium carbonate green(Halimeda sp.), filamentous green, encrusting coralline algae and blue green algae
were recorded at both sites (Figure 15). No sea grass or mangroves wereassociated with these sites.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201923

Figure 15: Examples of marine macro algae located within the shallow reefareas associated with FD Site 1 and FD Site 2.

Finfish population numbers and species diversity was low with only a few individuals
and species identified during the assessment. The absence of fish during the survey
may be attributed to the time of the assessment and tidal height, however it may be adirect result of fishing pressure. Finfish species that were identified during theassessment were dominated by reef dwelling plankitvores (small fish) and herbivores(e.g. Acanthuridae, Scaridae) and there was a noticeable lack of predator reef fish. It
is noted during the assessment that net fishing by local fishers (women) was
undertaken.
Similarly, very low numbers of other invertebrates were recorded. Several mobile
echinoderms were recorded including the sea urchin (Diademia sp.), several speciesof sea cucumber (Actinopyga mauritiana – surf red fish and Bohadschia argus –Tiger fish) (Figure 16 a & b), the coral predator crown of thorn starfish - COTS
(Acanthaster planci) (Figure 16 c) and feather stars (Crinoids). Evidence of feedingscars both from the crown of thorn starfish and the small gastropod Drupella sp. werelocated at both sites assessed, albeit at low levels.
Very low numbers of mollusks (bivalves, gastropods, cephalopods) were recorded
throughout the assessment site with only one small giant clams (Tridacna maxima)
recorded for both sites. However, a number of juvenile and adult top shell
herbivorous gastropod (Trochus niloticus) were recorded within the shallow reef edge
and upper slope of FD site 1 (Figure 16 d).
The absence of predator finfish, the small size of individual finfish present andabsence of subsistence and commercially valuable invertebrates indicates a highlevel of resource harvesting and/or an environment not conducive to support theseresources. It is perceived that the former suggestion is currently operating withinthese reef areas.

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Figure 16: Echinoderms (a, b & c) and Mollusks (d) located during the marine
assessments of FD Site 1 and 2.

The marine benthic environment associated with the southern reef channel systementering the Lelu harbor contains anthropogenic rubbish and machinery (Figure 17)
presumed to originate primarily from activities within and around Lelu harbor. FD Site
2 contained considerably more debris than FD site 1. A physical cleanup of thismaterial in and around the channel and harbor is advisable to prevent further
degradation of the marine environment.
Figure 17: Anthropogenic material and garbage located during the marine
assessment at FD Site 2.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201925

4.1.2 Free Dive Site 3
Free Dive Site Coordinates:(East: 5019’33.75”N 163001’58.34”E) (West: 5019’35.81”N 163001’49.88”E).
The northern side of the Lelu channel was assessed in its entirety (FD Site 3) (refer
Figure 7) and includes the subtidal reef area associated with the entire northern sideof the Lelu channel. This assessment included a distinctive intertidal and subtidal
fringing coral reef system characterised by a benthic substrate profile that is relatively
homogenous throughout the surveyed area. The site possess an expansive intertidal
reef flat (refer section 4.3 for full assessment description) that is exposed during low
spring tides, a small relative flat subtidal reef flat (5-8 m in width), a distinctive
however small reef crest and reef edge (4-6 m in width), a short upper reef slope (4-6
m width) that descends (30-50 degree) into the lower reef slope that continues
relatively steeply (40-70 degree) and terminates directly onto a sand/slit/coral rubble
dominated benthic substrate sea floor. Coral rubble and small coral fragments arelocated throughout the reef system and directly below the living coral on the lower
reef slope, however due to high levels of sedimentation associated with these sites it
is envisaged that larger coral fragments deposited onto the sea floor during
inclement weather conditions are covered (Figure 18). The subtidal reef systemvaries in depth west to east and ranges between 6 m towards the western side of thechannel through to 10 m within the channel.
Figure 18: Seabed Substrate associated with FD Site 3.

The reef flat proper and deeper areas of the subtidal reef flat were all but devoid of
hard and soft coral colonies (only isolated small hard coral (massive) colonies - werelocated within the subtidal reef flat areas), whilst the reef edge and the upper andlower reef slopes recorded significant live hard coral coverage, diversity, species
abundance and diverse morphological growth forms throughout the reef area
assessed. These reef zones support healthy hard coral communities with hard coral
species diversity and percent coverage increasing from west to east with highest
hard coral percent coverage results obtained towards the ocean side of the reef
channel. The existing reef systems include remnant and newly recruited hard coralcolonies and associated marine resources throughout this area. Soft coral
populations are noticeably scarce.
Highest hard coral percent live coverage and species diversity for all reef areas
assessed at this site were recorded within the upper and lower reef slope along thenorthern channel. Throughout the assessment a wide range of hard coral colonysize, morphological form were recorded with noticeable signs of different age cohorts
and species of small hard corals clearly indicating that natural coral recruitment is

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201926

occurring. A significant number of large massive coral heads (bommies)
predominately Porities sp., were recorded, several in excess of 3 m circumference(Figure 19).
Figure 19: Examples of large massive hard corals located within FD site 3.

Live hard coral percent coverage associated with the inshore subtidal reef areas(reef crest and edge) for FD Site 3 ranged between 0 - 25%. Hard coral percentage
coverage within these reef zones was similar throughout the assessment site andincluded hard coral massive, digitate and encrusting morphological forms (Figure
20).
Figure 20: Hard coral colony examples located within the within the subtidal
reef crest and edges of FD Site 3.

Hard coral live percentage coverage associated with the upper reef slope (3-4 m
water depth) reef areas ranged between 10–50 %, whilst hard coral percentage
coverage for the lower reef slope (4-10 m) ranged between 10-45% for FD Site 3(Figure 21).

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201927

Figure 21: Hard coral live coverage for the subtidal upper (a & b) and lower (c &d) reef slope for FD Site 3.

Hard coral morphological forms (size, structure) throughout FD Sites 3 wererelatively homogenous and reflect the ecosystem parameters within the area. Hard
coral species diversity and morphology remained similar in each of the reef zones.
Hard coral digitate (e.g. Acropora sp., Pocillopora sp., Porities sp.), branching (e.g.
Acropora sp., Pocillopora sp, Millepora sp), sub massive and massive (e.g. Porities
sp., Favites sp., Monitipora sp., Lobophyllia sp., Goniopora sp.), to a lesser degree
encrusting (e.g. Acropora sp., Echinophora sp.,), foliase (Turbinaria sp.) and solitary(e.g. Fungia sp. and Heliofungia sp.) morphological forms dominated the reef
systems throughout the assessment site (Figure 22). The large sub massive andmassive hard coral “bommie or coral head” morphological forms (predominately
Porities sp. and Goniopora sp.,) and to a lesser degree colonies of the branching fire
coral Heliopora coerulea sp., (blue coral) increased abundance within the reefs upper
reef slope.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201928

Figure 22: Hard coral diversity located at FD Site 3.

Soft coral colonies (e.g. Lobophytum sp., Sarcophyton sp., Sinularia sp.) andanemones and their associated clown fish were rare at FD sites 3.
Marine macro algae were located throughout the assessment site predominately
within the shallow marine waters associated with the outer sections of the subtidal
reef flat, reef crest, reef edge and upper reef slope. Macro algal population densities
and species assemblages included a number of brown algae (Sargassum sp.,
Padina sp.), substantial colonies of calcium carbonate green colonies (Halimeda sp.),filamentous green and blue green algae (Figure 23), whilst encrusting coralline algae
were recorded only in the eastern end of the FD site. Higher population densities ofcoralline algae were recorded towards the wave action reefs to the north east of theassessment site. No sea grass or mangroves were located within this assessment
site.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201929

Figure 23: Examples of marine macro algae located within the shallow reefareas associated with FD Site 3.

Finfish population numbers and species diversity was low with only a few individuals
and species identified during the assessment. The absence of fish during the survey
may be attributed to the time of the assessment and tidal height, however it may be adirect result of fishing pressure. Finfish species that were identified during theassessment were dominated by reef dwelling plankitvores (small fish) and herbivores(e.g. Acanthuridae, Scaridae) and there was a noticeable lack of predator reef fish.
Feeding scars resulting from parrotfish (Scaridae) were noticeable on a number ofmassive boulder corals located within the assessment site indicating populations ofthese fish are present within the assessment area (Figure 24 a).
Very low numbers of marine invertebrates were recorded during the assessment.
One individual sea cucumber was located (Holothuria atra) within the reef edge zone,
evidence of feeding scars on branching hard corals of the coral predator Crown ofThorn Starfish - COTS (Acanthaster planci) (Figure 23 b) and one small octopi(Octopus sp.) and shell remnants of a benthic tropical bivalve (Anadara sp.).
The absence of predator finfish, the small size of individual finfish present andabsence of subsistence and commercially valuable invertebrates indicates a highlevel of resource harvesting and/or an environment not conducive to support theseresources. It is perceived that the former suggestion is currently operating withinthese reef areas.
Evidence was located throughout FD Site 3 of hard coral mortality (recent and past
events) predominantly associated with branching and digitate forms (Figure 23 c andd). There was no direct evidence of the cause of this mortality recorded.

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Figure 24: Parrotfish (a) and COT starfish (b) feeding scars and hard coralmortality (c & d) located during the marine assessments of FD Site 3.

The marine benthic environment associated with the northern reef channel systementering the Lelu harbor contains anthropogenic rubbish (Figure 25 a & b) anddecommissioned (abandoned) steel (re-bar) aquaculture structure’s located within
the upper reef slope (Figure 23 c & d) presumed to originate primarily from activities
within and around Lelu harbor and past hard coral and clam growout nursery phases,
respectively. A physical cleanup of the abandoned aquaculture structure should beundertaken taking care to remove and reposition the coral growing on theestructures.
Figure 25: Anthropogenic material, rubbish (a & b) and decommissioned
aquaculture structures (c & d) located during the marine assessment FD Site 3.

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4.1.3 Free Dive Site 4
Free Dive Site Coordinates:(East: 5019’28.79”N 163001’42.48”E) (West: 5019’23.02”N 163001’36.70”E).
The subtidal patch reef located directly west of the Lelu channel within the middle of
the Lelu harbor (FD Site 4) (refer Figure 7) was assessed along its northeastern
corner (open to the channel) and along the southern side of reef system. The
assessment included a distinctive intertidal and subtidal patch coral reef systemcharacterised by a benthic substrate profile that is relatively homogenous throughout
the surveyed area. The site possess an intertidal and subtidal reef flat that is
exposed partially during low spring tides located across the entire top of the patch
reef, a distinctive however very small reef crest and reef edge (2-5 m in width) which
in sections is difficult to identify, a short upper reef slope (5-8 m width) that descends(20-40 degree) into the lower reef slope (5-10 m width) that continues relatively
steeply (40-70 degree) and terminates directly onto a sand/slit/coral rubble
dominated benthic substrate sea floor. Coral sand, rubble and small to medium size
coral fragments are located throughout all reef areas assessed and completely
dominates all benthic habitats directly below the living coral on the lower reef slope(Figure 26). Higher levels of mud/silt (sediment derived from terrigenous origins)
within the benthic substrate were located throughout the site when compared the FD
Site 1 and 2, which reflects the water circulation patterns within Lelu harbor and theirdirect affect on this reef system. The subtidal reef system varies in depth west to eastand ranges between 6 m towards the south western side of the patch reef channel
through to 10-12 m on the north western end towards the channel.
This patch reef system has been assessed and identified by the Kosrae State
government as a potential marine and fisheries managed area. Anecdotal
information acquired during stakeholder discussions indicated that the reef system
has yet to be official declared however, it is generally understood by the generalfishing community of its pending status. The specific management regime to be
declared was not located.

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Figure 26: Seabed Substrate associated with FD Site 4.

The reef flat proper and deeper areas of the subtidal reef flat (on the top of the patchreef) had a very low number of hard colonies throughout the assessed areas(isolated colonies of sub massive and massive colonies), whilst the reef edge and theupper and lower reef slopes recorded a low level of live hard coral coverage,
diversity, species abundance and diverse morphological growth forms throughout thereef area assessed. This assessment site recorded less hard coral species diversity,
morphological form and percent coverage than FD Site 1, 2 and 3 within the Lelu
channel. Nevertheless, these reef zones support healthy hard coral communities withhard coral species diversity and percent coverage increasing from west to east withhighest hard coral percent coverage results obtained towards the ocean side of thepatch reef. The shallow reef areas associated with the assessment site recorded
health and a high percent coverage of a number of species of marine macroalgae.
The existing reef systems include remnant and low levels of newly recruited hardcoral colonies and associated marine resources throughout this area. Soft coral
populations are noticeably scarce.
Highest hard coral percent live coverage and species diversity for all reef areas
assessed were recorded within the upper and lower reef slope towards the southeastern margins of the patch reef – closest to the Lelu channel. Throughout theassessment a range of hard coral colony size and morphological forms wererecorded with identifiable signs of different age cohorts and species of small hardcorals indicating that natural coral recruitment is occurring.
Live hard coral percent coverage associated with the intertidal and subtidal reef flat(the top of the patch reef) for FD Site 4 ranged between 0 - 10%. Hard coral
percentage coverage within these reef zones was similar throughout the assessment
site and included almost exclusively sub massive hard coral massive morphologicalforms, predominately Porities sp. (Figure 27).

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201933

Figure 27: Hard coral colony examples located within the intertidal andsubtidal reef flat of FD Site 4.

Live hard coral percent coverage associated with the subtidal reef areas (reef crestand edge) for FD Site 4 ranged between 0 - 15%. Hard coral percentage coverage
within these reef zones was similar throughout the assessment site (Figure 28).
Figure 28: Hard coral colony examples located within the subtidal reef crestand edges of FD Site 4.

Hard coral live percentage coverage associated with the upper reef slope (3-4 m
water depth) and lower reef slope were similar and ranged between 5 – 25 % for FD
Site 4. Hard coral sub massive and massive morphological forms dominated theassessment areas, however small colonies of hard coral branching, digitate andencrusting forms were recorded (Figure 29).

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Figure 29: Hard coral colony examples located within the subtidal reef slope
systems for FD Site 4.

Hard coral morphological forms (size, structure) throughout FD Sites 4 wererelatively homogenous and reflect the ecosystem parameters within the area. Hard
coral species diversity and morphology remained similar in each of the reef zones.
Hard coral sub massive and massive (e.g. Porities sp., Favites sp., Monitipora sp.,
Lobophyllia sp., Goniopora sp.) forms dominated all reef areas assessed. Theirdominance is a direct result of the environmental parameters associated with thissite. Limited numbers of hard coral digitate (e.g. Acropora sp., Pocillopora sp.,
Porities sp.), branching (e.g. Acropora sp., Pocillopora sp, Millepora sp) and solitary(e.g. Fungia sp. and Heliofungia sp.) morphological forms were located throughout
the assessment site (Figure 30).
Figure 30: Hard coral diversity located at FD Site 4.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201935

Soft coral colonies (e.g. Lobophytum sp., Sarcophyton sp., Sinularia sp.) andanemones and their associated clown fish were not recorded at FD sites 4.
Marine macro algae were located throughout the assessment site predominately
within the shallow marine waters associated with the outer sections of the subtidal
reef flat, reef crest, reef edge and upper reef slope. Macro algal population densities
and benthic coverage were abundant throughout the site assessed with percent
coverage ranging from 5 – 50%. Macroalgae species assemblages throughout FD
Site 4 were dominated by several species of calcium carbonate green algae(Halimeda sp.) (Figure 31 a, b & c) and the green algae (Caulerpa racemosa)commonly known as sea grapes (Figure 31 d). Whilst brown algae (Sargassum sp.,
Padina sp.), filamentous green and blue green algae recorded low levels ofabundance. No sea grass or mangroves were located within this assessment site.
Figure 31: Examples of marine macro algae located within the shallow reefareas associated with FD Site 4.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201936

Finfish population numbers and species diversity was low with only a few individuals
and species identified during the assessment. The absence of fish during the survey
may be attributed to the time of the assessment and tidal height, however it may be adirect result of fishing pressure. Finfish species that were identified during theassessment were dominated by reef dwelling plankitvores (small fish) and herbivores(e.g. Acanthuridae, Scaridae) and there was a noticeable lack of predator reef fish.
Marine invertebrates numbers were extremely low during the assessment. Several
individual sea starfish (Linckia laevigata) were located within the reef edge zone
(Figure 32 a). There were no crown of thorn starfish - COTS (Acanthaster planci)
located nor any commercial mollusk (e.g. gastropod snails – Trochus niloticus orbivalves - giant clams).
The absence of predator finfish, the small size of individual finfish present andabsence of subsistence and commercially valuable invertebrates indicates a highlevel of resource harvesting and/or an environment not conducive to support theseresources. It is perceived that the former suggestion is currently operating withinthese reef areas.
Evidence was located throughout FD Site 4 of hard coral mortality (recent and past
events) (Figure 32 b) predominantly associated with sub massive forms resulting
from environmental conditions (siltation - smothering) and recent death of section ofcoral heads (Figure 32 c and d). There was no direct evidence of the cause of thismortality recorded.
Figure 32: Starfish (a), hard coral mortality (b) and hard coral damage or
disease located during the marine assessments of FD Site 4.

The marine benthic environment associated with the patch reef system contained
limited anthropogenic rubbish, old machinery or physical damage of the reef from

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201937

human activities. The patch reef location within the Lelu harbor may reduce thechance accumulation of waste material due to the natural water circulating patterns.

4.2 Benthic Dive Site Assessments (DS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) within Lelu
Harbor and its Reef Channel.
The deeper water subtidal biological and non-biological marine benthic resourcesand environment located within Lelu Harbor (southern side) and its channel
associated with the proposed submarine cable alignment were assessed using
SCUBA. Dive depths ranged from 14 m (SD 6) through 45 m (SD 5). The outer reef
channel descends rapidly to significant oceanic depths.
In total, six SCUBA dives (SD 1, SD 2, SD 3, SD 4, SD 5 & SD 6) were undertaken
along the proposed submarine cable alignment within the projects Area of Influence.
Table 2 provides the GPS location and general description of each dive assessment
site. Figure 33 shows the location of the dive sites.
Table 2: Location and summary description of the six SCUBA Dive Sites (SD 1,
2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) undertaken during the marine benthic substrate assessment
within Lelu Harbor.
SCUBA
05019’32.7’N 163001’59.7’E.
Dive Site 1Ø Located inside and on the southern side of the Lelu harbor to
the south in close proximity to the proposed cable landing site.
Ø Maximum depth of dive 20 m.
SCUBA
05019’35.1’N 163001’67.2’E.
Dive Site 2Ø Located inside and on the southern side the Lelu harbor to thesouth directly adjacent to the south western end of the small
reef located within the harbor in close proximity to the
proposed cable landing site.
Ø Maximum depth of dive 15 m.
SCUBA
05019’40.0’N 163001’76.9’E.
Dive Site 3
Ø Located inside and on the southern side of Lelu harboradjacent to the eastern end of the small reef located within the
harbor towards the main channel.
Ø Maximum depth of dive 23 m.
SCUBA
05019’48.2’N 163001’75.0’E.
Dive Site 4Ø Located inside of the Lelu harbor directly in front of the small
reef located within the harbor towards the main channel.
Ø Maximum depth of dive 33 m.
SCUBA
05019’45.6’N 163001’87.3’E.
Dive Site 5Ø Located inside of the Lelu harbor within the channel.
Ø The dive undertook a rectangle pathway covering aconsiderable area from the reef lower slope through to the sea
floor.
Ø Four GPS locations points were recorded, these include: thestart (05019’45.6’N 163001’87.3’E), directly adjacent and into
the channel (05019’47.8’N 163001’87.8’E), northward parallel tothe reef edge (05019’49.8’N 163001’89.9’E) and southwards tothe base of the lower reef slope (05019’46.4’N 163001’96.6’E
Ø Maximum depth of dive 45 m.
SCUBA
05019’36.3’N 163001’75.5’E.
Dive Site 6Ø Located inside and on the southern side of Lelu harboradjacent to the southern shoreline within the harbor towards
the main channel.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201938Ø

Maximum depth of dive 14 m.

Figure 33: Location of the six SCUBA dive marine benthic assessment sites.

The subtidal seabed benthic substrate descends gradually from the western side of
the harbor towards the channel (east) and beyond and is boarded by a distinct
intertidal short and relatively steep reef slope dominated by hard corals to the sea
floor towards the channel.
The seabed substrate is relatively homogenous throughout the assessed sites and ischaracterized by a bottom layer of coarse sand and silt derived from terrigenous andcoral reef origins with a noticeable top layer of fine sediment - silt (Figure 34). The
fine layer of terrigenous sediment (silt) decreases towards the channel (west to east)
and is replaced predominately by sand towards the center of the channel andbeyond. However, fluctuations in the depth of the sediment layer and resulting water
turbidity is directly related to both tidal and weather conditions prevailing at any given
time, with significant increases in water turbidity and sediment deposition during out
going tides associated with heavy rainfall (discharging from streams).

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201939

Figure 34: Representative benthic substrate photos of the six dive assessment
sites; SD 1 (a), SD 2 (b), SD 3 (c), SD 4 (d), SD 5 (e) and SD 6 (f).

The prevalence and relatively high level of suspended silt and sand based substrate(refer Figure 33) located at all deep water assessment sites has a significant
detrimental effect on recruitment and survival of sessile benthic marine life. Resulting
in no sessile benthic invertebrate species (e.g. hard and soft corals) recorded at anyof the dive assessment sites directly attached to the substrate. Similarly, there was ageneral absence of seafloor surface mobile benthic sedentary invertebrates (e.g.
mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms). Burrowing marine worms (polychaetes) were
present at all dive sites assessed, albeit in low population numbers. Finfish wereabsence at the sea floor for all assessment dives. These animals are highly mobile
and are expected to periodically and continually move through this area. The paucityof hard substrate excludes those finfish species that require reef protection.
Coral rubble and/or fragmentation (up to 0.2 m diameter) were not recorded at any ofthe dive sites benthic assessment site locations, however were recorded at all sites

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201940

in close proximity to the lower reef slopes with increased presences within thechannel at shallow depths (Figure 35).
Figure 35: Representative benthic coral rubble and reef fragments associated withthe lower reef slope and seabed interface within Lelu harbor and channel.

Of note, a small number of large (4 plus meter circumference) Porities sp. coral
heads were located at depths of 30-40 m at SD 5 within the southern side of the Lelu
channel. In addition a larger number of remnant in situ coral heads (bommies) wererecorded possibly indicating evidence on increased sedimentation and turbidity levels
in more recent times resulting in the death of these large and old corals (several
hundreds of years in some cases).
The deepwater benthic substrate associated with the proposed submarine cablealignment is essentially devoid of coral reefs and associated resources. Coral sandand a fine layer of silt dominate the substrate throughout the area of influence within
Lelu Harbor and channel. There are no marine or coastal designated protected areasor areas of significant biodiversity, endangered, threatened, endemic or criticallyimportant species or habitats within the projects direct area of influence and the area
does not possess any sites of cultural, customary or heritage significance.
It is however noted that through anecdotal information (literature review andstakeholder discussions) there is the potential that unexploded ordnances (UXO)
resulting from WWII aerial bombing of Lelu Island and surrounding harbor may bepresent in the seabed. Due diligence is required when laying the cable needs to beundertaken to prevent inadvertent contact with UXO.

4.3 Benthic Reef Flat Transect Assessment Sites (TR 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and6) either side of Lelu Harbor Reef Channel.
The shallow water intertidal reef flat biological and non-biological marine benthic
resources and environment located either side of the Lelu Harbor channel (northernand southern sides) were assessed utilizing standard benthic transects. A total of Six(6) benthic transects were undertaken from the shoreline to the outer reef edge, four
(TR 1 - 4) and two (TR 5 and 6) transects undertaken on the southern and northernintertidal reef systems respectively within the Lelu harbor and all are adjacent to the
proposed submarine cable alignment. All transects were undertaken during low waterwith the majority of the reef system exposed during the assessment. All transects
had an assessment total width of 4 m. Table 3 provides the start and finish GPS
location, linear length (m), total area (m2) assessed and a general description of eachtransect assessment site. Figure 36 shows the location of the six transect
assessment sites.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201941

Table 3: Location (GPS), linear length (m), total area (m2) and summary
description of the six intertidal reef flat transect sites (TR 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
undertaken during the marine benthic assessment within Lelu Harbor.
Transect Start: 05019’17.58’N 163001’48.95’E.
Site 1Finish: 05019’22.79’N 163002’04.23’E.
2
Ø Length 500 m with an assessment area of 2,000 m .
Ø Located on the southern reef flat of Lelu harbor originating fromthe shoreline directly east to the reef edge, approximately 230 m
south of the inner entrance of Lelu channel.
Transect Start: 05019’23.37’N 163002’03.64’E.
Site 2Finish: 05019’26.17’N 163001’54.84’E.
2
Ø Length 280 m with an assessment area of 1,200 m .
Ø Located on the southern reef flat of Lelu harbor running paralleland directly adjacent to the reef edge within the outer reef flat(within the wave zone) of the channel.
Transect Start: 05019’18.13’N 163001’47.64’E.
Site 3Finish: 05019’26.18’N 163001’54.24’E.
2
Ø Length 320 m with an assessment area of 1,280 m .
Ø Located on the southern reef flat of Lelu harbor originating fromthe shoreline directly south and parallel to the reef edge boarding
the inner reef system of Lelu harbor.
Transect Start: 05019’17.99’N 163001’46.16’E.
Site 4
Finish: 05019’20.07’N 163001’44.98’E.
2
Ø Length 70 m with an assessment area of 280 m .
Ø Located on the southern reef flat of Lelu harbor originating fromthe shoreline and running directly north to the reed edge wellwithin the Lelu harbor.
Transect Start: 05019’38.61’N 163001’48.55’E.
Site 5
Finish: 05019’36.49’N 163001’49.19’E.
2
Ø Length 70 m with an assessment area of 280 m .
Ø Located on the northern reef flat of Lelu harbor originating fromthe shoreline directly south towards the reef edge of the inner
Lelu harbor channel.
Transect
Site 6

Start: 05019’39.57’N 163001’52.59’E.
Finish: 05019’35.02’N 163001’55.26’E.
2
Ø Length 160 m with an assessment area of 640 m .
Ø Located on the northern reef flat of Lelu harbor originating fromthe shoreline directly south towards the reef edge of the Lelu
harbor channel.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201942

Figure 36: Location of the six transects assessment sites.

The intertidal reef flat either side of the Lelu channel are extensions of the islands
large shallow water fringing reef system that is dominated by high wave energy
environments seaward receiving oceanic swells, an extensive shallow water intertidal
hard substrate reef flat that is boarded shore wards by sand beaches derived by bothterrigenous and coral reef origins.
The reef flat adjacent to and south of Lelu harbor channel is wider and more
extensive that the northern reef flat. Both reef flats are exposed during high spring
low tides, are flushed twice daily by tidal movement and are influenced by oceanic
swells, currents and waves. Periodic inputs of decreased salinity and high levels of
suspended sediments occur during inclement tropical whether. Both reef flats are
utilized daily for subsistence fishing and gleaning activities and the shoreline havebeen significantly altered through past and present anthropogenic actions including
shoreline reclamation and substrate extraction (sand).
The reef flat substrate at both the southern (TS 1, 2 3 & 4) and northern (TR 5 and 6)
transect sites posses similar benthic substrate profiles. Each site has a sand beachshoreline (Figure 37a), an extensive relatively homogenous reef flat that is composedof fine silt and coral derived sand interspersed with coral rubble inshore (Figure 37b),
a small but distinctive back reef coral rock accumulation area (derived from wave
action) (Figure 37c) less dominated on the northern reef flat due to less wave action
and a hard scoured outer reef flat in areas that are influenced by wave action (Figure
37d).

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201943

Figure 37: Representative photos of the different substrate types located on
the intertidal reef flat systems adjacent to the submarine cable alignment
within Lelu harbor and channel.

The reef flat is relatively flat throughout its entire area, however small vertical relief
patches are found throughout both intertidal assessed areas which in generalcontainer higher levels of sediment accumulation.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201944

The inshore intertidal areas of both reef flats are dominated by healthy sea grassbeds, dominated by two species Enhalus acrorides and Thalassia hemprichii which
are more pronounced on the southern reef flat, especially the intertidal areas within
the harbor itself in close proximity to the shoreline (Figure 38a). Similarly, the reef flat
areas support healthy populations of several species of macroalgae (Sargassum sp.,
Padina Sp.,).
Hard coral live percentage coverage was extremely low for all transects associatedwith the southern assessment sites with only a very small number of small isolated
coral heads (Porities sp.) (Figure 38b) located towards the outer and deeper sectionsof the reef flats. Slightly higher population numbers of hard coral colonies wererecorded for the northern transect sites which were all located in the outer subtidal
reef flat areas associated with the reef edge in deeper water. No soft coral colonies
were recorded at any transect.
Invertebrate sessile animal populations (gastropods, bivalves mollusks) wererecorded in all transects albeit in very low numbers, especially those species thathave subsistence, medicinal or commercial value. Small populations of the small
very low valued black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) were located in the shallow
intertidal areas in both areas, whilst the commercial sea cucumber Actinopyga
mauritiana (Figure 38c) was recorded only once on the outer reef flat area of transect
2 (wave zone).
Finfish stocks were extremely low during the assessment, it is expected that duringhigh tide populations of algae feeding species of fish would increase, however thesewould be expected to be juveniles due to the habitat present and high fishingpressure in this area.
A significant amount of anthropogenic material and rubbish was located during thetransect assessments with areas closer to the shoreline and harbor possessing
higher percentage (Figure 38d).
Figure 38: Representative photos of the marine resources located on theintertidal reef flat during the transect assessment of the northern and southern
reefs adjacent to the Lelu harbor channel.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201945

4.3.1 Submarine Cable Landings Site – Beach Man HoleThe terminal end of the submarine cable alignment (Beach Man Hole – BMH) will belocated within the boundary of the Sanskrit Elementary school land parcel and the
Lelu harbor southern foreshore (Figure 39). This land parcel is owned by the Stateand is on reclaimed foreshore land.
Figure 39: Location of the project submarine terminal end – Beach Man Hole.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201946

The submarine cable will enter the site (BMH) (Figure 40 a & b) directly from thesouthern side of Lelu harbor along the sea floor passing through both subtidal andintertidal benthic substrate zones.
The benthic substrate associated with the terminal end of the cable include a coralsand mud dominated benthic substrate with small coral fragments and rocks (Figure
40 c & d) located closer to the intertidal shoreline. The area is tidally flushed andpossesses a fluctuating water salinity that is a result of tidal movement and inputs offreshwater from the surround streams and land runoff entering the harbor.
Figure 40: Shoreline (a & b) and benthic substrate associated with thesubmarine cable terrestrial landing site.

There were no hard or soft coral colonies located directly adjacent to and opposite
the proposed cable landing site. Macroalgae, predominately brown algae(Sargassum sp., Padina sp.) and to a much lesser extent colonies of calcium
carbonate green colonies (Halimeda sp.), filamentous green and blue green algae
were recorded in very low populations densities within the shallow intertidal reefareas to the east of the proposed landing site. Similarly, hard coral sub massive andmassive colonies (Porities sp.) were recorded along the shoreline to the east (60 m)of the BMH, these hard coral colonies are expected to be well outside the area ofinfluence of the project.
Directly in front of the submarine terrestrial landings site within the intertidal andsubtidal reef flat rests a sunken steel vessel (old barge) (Figure 41). Shallow water
investigation of the vessel identified a population of tropical rock oyster (Crassostrea
echinata) attached to the frame however there was no evidence of hard or softcorals. The marine environmental parameters prevailing at this site are not conduciveto the recruitment, growth and survival of hard and soft corals. The exact termination

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201947

point (BMH) will be finalized in due course, however it is advise that due to thelocation of a sunken vessel directly in front of the land parcel consideration for thecable to enter east of this vessel is recommended.
Figure 41: Sunken vessel adjacent to the submarine cable landing site.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201948

5.0 POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENTASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBMARINE CABLE ALIGNMENT DEPLOYMENT
5.1 Key Findings of the Marine Assessment
The key findings of the marine benthic assessment of the shallow water submarine
cable alignments direct and indirect Area of Influence for the island of Kosrae aresummarized below and include:
The Marine Substrate (sea floor):
•

•

•

•

•

•

•
•

The seabed substrate associated with the proposed submarine cablealignment path is relatively homogenous throughout the area assessed, has arange of water depth between 14 and 45 m and is characterized by a bottom
layer of coarse sand derived from terrigenous and coral reef origins with afine silt top layer.
The presence of coral fragments, rocks and bounders associated with the sea
floor within the proposed cable alignment direct area of influence are rare andmost likely buried due to sedimentation deposition.
The depth of the silt layer decreases towards Lelu harbor channel and is
replaced predominately by sand towards the center of the channel andbeyond, however fluctuations in the depth of the sediment sand silt layer andresulting water turbidity is directly related to tidal and weather conditions
prevailing at any given time.
The relatively high level of suspended silt and sand based substrate locatedat all assessment sites has a significant detrimental effect on the ability ofsessile benthic marine resources to settle (recruit) and survive in these area.
No sessile (non motile) benthic invertebrate species were recorded at any ofthe deepwater substrate dive assessment sites located within the proposed
submarine cable alignment pathway.
Mobile benthic invertebrates and vertebrates (including finfish) recorded very
low population and species numbers throughout the areas assessed. Marine
worm (Polycheate) burrows were located at all dive assessment sites. These
invertebrate resources are highly mobile and adaptive to environmental
disturbances. As such these invertebrates would be expected to relocate if
the benthic substrate and sediment profile is impacted.
Anthropogenic garbage, machinery parts and infrastructure equipment werelocated on the sea floor in all assessment sites.
There is a possibility of Unexploded Ordnances (UXO) associated with thesea floor within the cable alignment pathway. The likelihood of theirpresences in unknown. Investigations should be undertaken.

The Reef Systems:••

There are no coral reef systems nor hard coral communities located within the
projects direct Area of Influence.
Coral reef systems are located within the projects potential indirect area ofinfluence. These reef systems are healthy and maintain diverse invertebrate
benthic resource assemblages and are located on either side of the Lelu
channel, along the margins of the outer sections of Lelu harbor and patch

•

•

•
•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•
•

reefs within the harbor and as such are adjacent to the proposed cablealignment.
These coral reef systems include a distinct zonation; shallow water intertidal
reef flat that is exposed during low spring tides (varying in width 75 m – 280
m either side of the channel), subtidal reef flat (varying in width 10 - 30 m),
distinctive reef edge and crest (3-10 m width), and upper and lower reef slope(5-10 m width) which for the most part have a vertical drop of between 30 80% (the southern side of Lelu harbor is almost vertical wall) that terminates
directly onto a sand silt dominated seabed with depths ranging between 8 m
in close proximity to the BMH through depths in excess of 45 m within the
Lelu channel.
Coral fragments, rocks and boulders are located in close proximity to the reef
systems. They are all but absent within the channel and harbor associatedwith the proposed cable alignments area of influence.
All reef sites assessed possessed a well developed intertidal and shallow
water subtidal coral reef ecosystem.
Hard coral percentage live coverage, morphological form, species diversity
and abundance in general were similar throughout the sites assessedreflected the natural environmental forces affecting the different reef
locations. A general decrease in these coral parameters was recorded fromthe entrance to the Lelu channel through to the inner harbor.
The channels southern reef system recorded higher hard coral percent
coverage, species diversity and a larger range of morphological forms than
the northern channel reef site. Both channel sites recorded considerably
higher live reef parameter levels that those recorded within the harbor patch
reef and southern harbor reef margins in close proximity to the cable landingsite (BMH).
The cable marine landing site is devoid of a hard coral reef system rather isdominated by a sand silt benthic substrate that does not support benthic
sessile invertebrate or vertebrate populations.
Hard coral percent live coverage for the northern and southern channel reef
systems for the intertidal reef, reef crest and edge and reef slope varied
between 0-2 % and 0–2%, 0-10 % and 0–25%, and 5-80 % and 10–50%,
respectively. The patch reef assessed recorded 0-10%, 0-15%, 5-25%
coverage for the above parameters.
Hard coral sub massive and massive (e.g. Porities sp., Favites sp., Monitipora
sp., Lobophyllia sp., Goniopora sp.) and to a lessor degree digitate (e.g.
Acropora sp., Pocillopora sp., Porities sp.), small branching (e.g. Acropora
sp., Pocillopora sp, Millepora sp), encrusting (e.g. Acropora sp., Echinophorasp., Turbinaria sp.) and solitary (e.g. Fungia sp. and Heliofungia sp.)morphological forms dominated the subtidal reef flat, reef edge, crest andupper and lower reef slope at all assessment sites.
The large sub massive and massive hard coral “bommie or coral head”
morphological forms (predominately Porities sp.) were abundant at all sites
accessed with a number of large colonies in excess of 4 m circumference
located along the southern channel reef slope.
Both remnant and newly recruited hard coral colonies of varying sizes werelocated at all sites, albeit at a lower level within the patch reef, providing direct
evidence of natural hard coral recruitment is active in these areas.
There was an absence of soft corals at all sites assessed.
The intertidal reef systems either side of the channel extending into theharbor possessed extensive and healthy sea grass beds dominated by two
species (Enhalus acrorides and Thalassia hemprichii). No sea grass was

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 2019

50

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

recorded within the area of influence of the proposed submarine cablealignment.
Marine macro algae density, coverage and diversity recorded low densities at
all sites with the largest percent coverage recorded within the subtidal reef flaton top of the patch reef within the harbor. The dominant macro algae
recorded at all sites was several species of calcium carbonate green algae(Halimeda sp.), whilst the patch reef possessed healthy densities of the green
algae (Caulerpa racemosa) commonly known as sea grapes.
The inner shoreline sections of Lelu harbor support an extensive and diverse
mangrove forest, however these trees are well outside of the projects direct
or indirect area of influence and no impacts are expected from the projects
activities.
Finfish population numbers and species diversity was low at all sites
assessed. Species that were present were juveniles and include reef dwellingplankitvores (small fish), herbivores (e.g. Acanthuridae, Scaridae) and there
was a noticeable lack of predator reef fish.
Very low numbers of reef associated invertebrates (apart from corals) wererecorded at all assessed sites. Those that were recorded have no or little
subsistence or commercial value (e.g. non commercial sea cucumbers).
Reasonable levels of rubbish (e.g. plastic and glass bottles), machinery andold equipment were located on the substrate throughout the marine areas
assessed. These should be removed.
Several adult individual Crown of Thorns starfish (COTS) and their distinctive
hard coral feeding scars were located during the assessment. The southern
reef system recorded the highest numbers (5), however as these species are
cryptic and generally nocturnal it is likely that the population on these reefs ishigher than recorded during the assessment.
There was no hard coral bleaching, however there was small scale evidenceof disease associated with the hard coral communities at both the northern
channel reef and patch reef assessment sites.
5 marine green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were recorded swimming within thechannel and outer harbor during the assessment. These individuals were sub
adults and were most likely foraging on the reefs. These animals are highly
mobile and as such they would not be negatively impacted during the
deployment of the cable. There has been no recorded turtle nesting on the
shoreline beach of Lelu harbor for well over 4 decades.
There were no threatened, endangered or endemic hard coral species
located during the assessment, nor any State, national or international
endangered or protected species (apart from the turtle discussed above).
There are no marine or coastal designated marine protected areas or areas ofsignificant biodiversity within or in close proximity to the proposed submarine
cable alignment. The patch reef assessed has been discussed by the state
government as a potential site for fisheries management area but has yet tobe formally designed. It is expected that the deployment of the submarine
cable will have no direct or indirect impact on the benthic resources
associated with this patch reef system.
The proposed cable alignment will not impact any State or National sites ofcultural, customary or heritage significance. The historical plane and vessel
wrecks are located well outside the proposed cable alignment.
The benthic substrate associated with the proposed cable alignment isdominated almost exclusively of sand and silt benthic substrate and as suchthe benthic habitat within the project direct area of influence can beconsidered to have very low habitat and ecological value to the marine
ecological systems of Lelu harbor and surrounding marine ecosystem.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201951

5.2 Key Environmental Impacts
The proposed scope of works associated with the deployment of the submarine
cable entering Lelu channel traversing through the southern side of Lelu harbor andterminating at the terrestrial landing site at Sanskrit school will result in a very small
marine environmental footprint both above and below the water.
Impacts on the marine environment and coastal waters associated directly with andsurrounding the submarine cable alignment are expected to be very minor, localized
to the immediate footprint of the works, and easily managed through standard deepsea cable laying engineering good practice mitigation measures. There are no
threats to the area’s marine and coastal biodiversity associated with the project. As
such the potential impacts of the works on the marine environment are considered tobe minor, temporary, easily mitigatable and overall insignificant.
The potential impacts of the project on the marine biological environment include:(i)

Localized and temporary increased suspended sediment levels
adjacent to and either side of the submarine cable alignment areas
potentially affecting marine habitats and associated resources during
construction activities. Tidal fluctuations will predict the movement of
sediment.

(ii)

Spillage/leakage of oil and other pollutants into the marine
environment from plant and equipment used during the deployment of
the submarine cable (construction phase) of the project.

Benthic habitats associated with the environmental footprint directly within andadjacent to the submarine cable alignment comprises almost exclusively of sand/silt
substrate (some coral rubble and rock in shallow areas) with a paucity of benthic
sessile invertebrates. As such the proposed scope of works will have a negligible
potential impact on these habitats, its resources and is acceptable.
There is potential for localized and temporary increased suspended sediment levelsin the marine environment during the disturbance of the sea floor as a result of thecable deployment. Such impacts are expected to be very minor due to i) the low
habitat value of the benthic environment, ii) prevailing high suspended sedimentconditions in the area during periods of heavy rain and/or rough sea conditions, andiii) the limited physical construction activities proposed.

5.3 Potential Impact Mitigation Measures
The potential impact of increased suspended sediment levels from the works can befurther minimized through implementation of the following mitigation measures during
the construction phase of the project:
(i)

(ii)

Deploy silt curtain/s around the termination location (shoreline adjacent to
the BMH) of the submarine cable during all construction andredevelopment activities to directly manage and reduce the dispersion ofbenthic substrate (silt) disturbed during construction, andEnsure due diligence when operating machinery during all work activities
to prevent and manage petrochemical spillage and contamination of thewaters associated with the project.

The contractor will be required to ensure all equipment is properly maintained and tofollow all necessary precautions to prevent spillage of petrochemicals into the marine
environment as set out in the hazardous materials section of the projects EMP.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201952

Provided such measures are properly implemented the potential impacts on themarine environment will be insignificant.
The overall potential impact of the works on the marine biological environment is
expected to be very minor, localized and overall insignificant provided standard
mitigation measures associated with good engineering practice as identified above
are implemented. Furthermore due to the nature of potential minor impacts of thescope of works it is recommended that no specific marine monitoring program isrequired other than close supervision of the work to ensure that the above
recommended mitigation measures are implemented and effective throughout themarine construction works.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201953

6.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY
English, S., Wilkinson, C. & Baker, V., (Ed). 1997. Survey manual for Tropical Marine
Resources, 2nd Edition. Australian Institute of Marine Science publication. 390pp.
Segal, Harvey. G., 1989. Kosrae: The Sleeping Lady Awakens. Kosrae State Tourist
Division. 316 pp.
SPC, 2016. SPC Fisheries Address Book. 80pp.

East Micronesian Cable Project - Marine Benthic Assessment – Lelu Harbor – Kosrae State –December 201954