MARINE  CONSERVATION  NEWS

Marine Conservation Society Seychelles, 
 PO Box 1299, Victoria, Mahe ,Seychelles

Aldabra Marine Programme Extends Research

In November 2004 the Aldabra Marine Programme (AMP) visited the Seychelles to seek support for a new research programme within the lagoon at Aldabra. 
The AMP was formed in 1999 to investigate the long term effects of the 1998 bleaching event on the corals and reef fishes of Aldabra. The 1998 El Niño was the most severe warm water event ever recorded. The average sea surface temperature increased beyond the tolerance of many corals in the tropical oceans of the world.

 It is now estimated that a staggering 16% of the world’s corals died as a result, and at Aldabra it is estimated that approximately 40-60% of hard corals died during the same event. The loss of coral habitat intensified concerns over the status of the tropical marine environment worldwide, and many programs were initiated to assess the impacts of this and future seawater temperature anomalies. The Aldabra Marine Programme, based at the University of Cambridge, UK, is part of this worldwide research effort. 

 

January 2005  

Vol 3, No. 1
 

 

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Fossilized coral reef “champignon” carved by the daily tidal flow within the Aldabra lagoon. Photo Ben Stobart, AMP

AMP studies at Aldabra Atoll are critical in providing long-term information from one of the world’s greatest surviving natural laboratories. Aldabra has this unique status because it is one of the world’s largest raised coral atolls, is undeveloped and isolated in a remote area of the Indian Ocean, and is located in a biodiversity “hot-spot” within the Indian Ocean. It is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


The Aldabra Marine Programme is now seeking funding to, jointly with the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), Ministry of the Environment, and Seychelles Centre for Marine Research and Technology-Marine Parks Authority, to expand on the work it has already been doing to conserve Aldabra’s unique wildlife. We propose to conduct an extensive survey of the lagoon at Aldabra that has been little studied, yet remains one of the keys to the successful management of the atoll in the future. It will include preliminary mapping and documentation of the extent of the mangrove and coral reef areas, the creation of an inventory of the main biota, including fish and corals, and the collection of genetic samples. Data gathered from the lagoon will be used to produce an adaptive management plan for the atoll that will also include data obtained by AMP over the past five years, as well as that of other available research. The AMP will also create a website for Aldabra that will make all data obtained available to researchers, raise awareness about the atoll, carry educational material for schools and act as a donation portal for the SIF.


Few places remain on earth that can be considered as free from the influences of humans as Aldabra. It is truly a treasure, and a global environmental icon the People of the Seychelles can be proud of.

Article By: Ben Stobart, AMP 

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