00:02It's a delicate rescue mission for this seagrass, a vital habitat for seahorses and fish, which
00:09is on the brink of being wiped out in Sydney Harbour.
00:12This species is endangered in all six estuaries in New South Wales. We've lost the majority
00:18of it in Sydney Harbour. There are a few tiny little meadows left.
00:22After being revived at an aquatic nursery, this seagrass is going back into the harbour
00:27and at one beach, its biggest threat has been neutralised. Scientists have installed eco-friendly
00:34boat moorings, which unlike standard ones, don't have chains that wipe out seagrass.
00:40We've replaced the chain with something that kind of slightly floats.
00:44It's a low impact technology that's won support from local boat owners.
00:48When people understand the nature of the traditional mooring and the new technology we're putting
00:53in place, people are all on board, particularly if it means a better environmental outcome.
00:58This seagrass that's being planted beneath the new moorings now has a good chance at survival.
01:03The damage in Sydney Harbour has been so great that natural recovery is just not going to
01:08happen. So unless we step in and give nature a little bit of a helping hand, it's just not
01:13going to recover.
01:14It's hoped if this project here at Balmoral is a success, these special moorings could be
01:18rolled out elsewhere in Sydney Harbour, providing a solution that works for both boaters and
01:23the marine environment.
01:24We think that this will be successful, we think this will be a way of the future and as a
01:28business
01:29operator we'd like to be in the front of that curve, not behind it.
01:32Healing old wounds in the harbour's ecosystem.
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