[LUM#2] Eco-design at the bedside of fish

[LUM Magazine] - Published on May 31, 2016 in Science-Society

Ports, jetties, breakwaters... How can we protect fish from the concrete structures that are constantly reshaping our coastlines? Eco-design now has a say in the matter.

He fell in love with the sea when he was a child. "Diving, fishing, watching fish... I spent my entire childhood with my head in the water." His role model? Commander Cousteau. So when it came time to choose a career path, Matthieu Lapinski's was clear: he would become a marine biologist. A path that led him to the Faculty of Sciences in Montpellier, where he earned a master's degree in Ecology and Biodiversity Management.

Shelters and artificial reefs

"During my studies, I learned that Egis was recruiting an engineer specializing in marine biology and ecology. They wanted someone with three to five years of professional experience," recalls Matthieu Lapinski. He didn't yet have his degree or the required experience. But he knew the sea inside out. "I'm the one you need," he said. It was his dream job, and it became his job.

His job? Protecting the marine environment. "I design eco-friendly maritime and port structures, " explains Matthieu Lapinski. "My mission is to minimize the impact of human construction on the aquatic environment." For example, by creating shelters for young fish in the large seaport of Marseille.

Because these turbulent teenagers need protected spaces. "In ports, juvenile fish no longer have anywhere to take shelter, even though these areas are teeming with predators." Or by designing artificial reefs, "concrete homes for fish that replicate their natural environment when it has disappeared," explains the engineer specializing in marine biology and ecology.

Respect marine ecosystems

A brand new profession, which emerged just a few years ago "thanks to society's growing environmental awareness in the face of significant damage to our oceans." But also because regulations have changed. "We are now required to take into account the impact of humans on the environment."

Should a protective seawall be built in coastal areas to combat rising sea levels linked to climate change? "In this case, we are involved in the environmental support for the project." The idea is to make the new seawall an integral part of the marine ecosystem. This is a real challenge that requires reconciling technical, economic, and environmental constraints. The end of uncontrolled coastal urbanization? "Today, the technical solutions exist. It's up to us to implement them."

Keywords: Marine biodiversity, Ecology, Ecosystem, LUM#2, LUM Magazine