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Archive -Environment

SFA, SIF cement research partnership for the future |25 July 2016

 

The Seychelles Fishing Authority and Seychelles Islands Foundation carried out a pilot phase of a potential research partnership recently at Aldabra to undertake some collaborative marine monitoring.

Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) vessel RV L'Amitié arrived at Aldabra on April 2 with a full crew and three members of the SFA research department. One of the aims of the trip was to repeat surveys of the coral reef communities (fishes, benthos and coral juvenile abundance) at nine sites around Aldabra Atoll, which are part of SIF’s long-term marine monitoring programme, to assess the extent and severity of the current coral bleaching phenomenon around Aldabra and Seychelles. A team of four Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) and SFA divers carried out these surveys over a period of six days.

The Aldabra Scientific Coordinator, April Burt, led the survey team and undertook the benthic community and coral recruit abundance and composition surveys, assisted by SFA research officer Kettyna Constance. SIF ranger Stephanie Marie undertook the fish surveys along with SFA research officer Rodney Melanie. Initial findings were that there was a high level of bleaching at all sites ranging from 60-99% of all corals being affected to some degree.

The second aim of this research trip was to extend the data set and sampling collected from Aldabra’s subsistence fishery to include valuable information about fish stocks, stock health and genetic connectivity. SFA research technician Maria Cedras was stationed on Aldabra for a week and led the training of the research staff in extracting the otoliths (ear bones) that can be used to age fish; gonad samples for information on spawning productivity and seasonality; fin clips for DNA analysis to assess population structure and connectivity; and liver and muscle samples for analysis of stable isotopes, content of lipids, fatty acids and heavy metals, which will be analysed to determine fish health and information on trophic ecology. The sampling programme will focus on four species that are currently being caught at Aldabra and are on the priority list of species on the SFA Demersal Management plan. These include Aprion virescens (Zob Gri/Green Jobfish), Lutjanus bohar (Varavara/Red Snapper), Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Vyey Goni/Brown Marbled Grouper), and Epinephelus polyphekadion (Vyey Masata/Camouflage Grouper).

The week was a fantastic opportunity for the two organisations to work together and cement a research partnership for the future. A great deal was achieved but a lot of fun was also had with many new friendships made. Our sincere thanks to Captain Gerard Ernesta and his crew for such a successful week.

 

 

 

 

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