Study On The Effect Of Submarine Cable Project On Marine Environment And The Countermeasures

Marine environment is an important part of existence and development for the mankind, which includes marine ecology, sea water, seabed, marine atmosphere, and ocean-related natural environment such as sea coast, harbor and fairway, maritime transport operations and social environment. In recent years, the heat of marine economy remains in high, being an important part of worldwide economy. The degree of oceanic development and utilization activities increased largely and marine engineering projects appear in the coastal areas in succession. Submarine cable project might involve many marine eco-sensitive areas, and the consequent environmental issues became the current hotspots.This paper discussed the impact on marine environment by the main pollutants in the submarine cable project in general and took submarine cable project as an example to study the environment impact. Starting with the present situation of adjacent sea area, numerical simulation was applied to analyze and forecast the impact on sea water quality and marine environment caused by the suspended sediment in the construction stage. The corresponding suggestions were put forward from different stages of submarine cable projects and from different aspects.The results showed the mathematical model selected was proved to be capable of simulate the kinetic characteristic of tidal current, thus achieving the goal of forecasting the environment impact. Submarine cable projects impacted the marine environment in many aspects, among which, marine environment impact by the suspended sediment in the construction stage was a critical one, which could be lessened by scientific and reasonable construction arrangement. Take this project as a case, although the project caused pollution to sea water quality to some extent, the environment of adjacent sea area was in good condition. The maximum diffusion distance of suspend sediment was 1380meters, going beyond the distance with Changle clam aquaculture reserve (nearest at 10m), which could influence the growth and foraging of the clams, especially the larva. However, the impact could be reduced by reasonable arrangement of the construction time to avoiding the breeding season. Secondly, the submarine cable was adjacent to the reserve without passing through, which could not produce direct damage to depositional environment of the reserve. The suspend sediment was temporary, which could settling down naturally by the end of project, and the water quality could recover. In brief, the impact on marine environment by the project was relatively small.