Author: Kirk Stewart
14 February 2018

Evaluating MPA Reef Health

The marine program at MRCI has been evaluating, monitoring, and protecting the reefs of Nosy Komba and surrounding islands for several years. Rigorous surveys are conducted every month on reefs close to camp as well as the three artificial reefs that MRCI has constructed so far. Every single month there are no less than twenty surveys done by the marine staff and volunteers to examine everything from the comings and goings of the resident turtle population, to documenting and counting the invasive species on the reef. Surveys are performed near daily with the more experienced and knowledgeable volunteers going on the more difficult transect surveys. These surveys are performed on a twenty-meter line where every fish, coral, and urchin are counted to see how the diversity of marine life is changing over time, both in and out of the MPA. The data from these surveys has been shared with several other research organizations and also presented at several conferences. Several papers are also being written utilizing this survey data that will be submitted to scientific journals!

But there is much more being done than these surveys. Newer volunteers who are still learning about the marine life of Nosy Komba can assist in nudibranch hunts, coral bleaching studies, turtle surveys, and even the monitoring of our artificial reefs. Additionally, in the past few months baseline surveys have been performed around most of Nosy Komba. These surveys are performed opportunistically but allow volunteers to see more spots around Madagascar and help the team get a more complete understanding of the oceans health around northern Madagascar. Through this multitude of surveys, the marine team at MRCI has established itself as a trusted and reputable source of data and research.

But the marine program has more going on than only surveying. Recently, in an effort to add to the already existing three artificial reefs, the volunteers and staff worked together to design and build another artificial reef. Plans have only recently been finalized, but updates on the building and implementation will follow. The previous artificial reefs have already had an impressive proliferation of life come to them with the latest survey reporting back hundreds of oysters and clams, abundant algae and coral, and almost 1500 fish spread across 5 rebar pyramids. With this new artificial reef and lessons learned from previous designs we can only hope for a greater degree of success and information gained from their study.

Lastly, in a sign of good things to come, two medium size Napoleon or Humphead wrasse were seen this week. This species of fish is usually one of the first fish that will be eradicated in heavily fished areas and are also a great indicator or reef health. Their return to the reef not only shows that our MPA has been effective in restoring the health of the reef, but that it has reached a state that it can support these mammoth-like 6 feet long fish. Ever day volunteers are coming back seeing more and more different species of marine life and keystone predators like barracudas and jacks. A welcome sign that the MPA has had the restorative effects that were hoped for, and that the reef is beginning to flourish like it once did.

Read More About Our Marine Conservation Program

 

MRCI’s Sea Turtle Monitoring Program has been established to identify and develop Safe Turtle Breeding Zones in North Western Madagascar.  MRCI has successfully, with the support of the local community, implemented a “Safe Turtle Nesting Zone” on Nosy Komba Island. As part of this initiative, MRCI have employed security personnel to provide 24 hour monitoring of this nesting zone to ensure the safety of the turtles and their eggs.

MRCI volunteers will assist in identifying nesting areas by visiting remote beaches on islands surrounding the island of Nosy Be. This program gives volunteers the opportunity to get up close to these beautiful creatures whilst helping to ensure the health and survival of the species into future.

The Sea Turtle Monitoring Program runs during nesting season from October to March each year, when turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. The main objective and focus on our Sea Turtle Monitoring Program is to collect and record species, nesting and size related data for estimating population dynamics and nesting distributions in North Western Madagascar.

Currently large numbers of turtle eggs are being plundered on many of the remote beaches, and hatchlings and fully reproductive turtles are shockingly being harvested for the souvenir trade. Due to the already naturally low survival rate of turtle hatchlings, this is having devastating impacts on population numbers.

Identifying and implementing protection measures for these breading sites is paramount to safeguarding the species in this area. With the collaborative effort of our volunteers, who play a vitally important role in assisting to achieve our goals, MRCI will continue to strive to protect endangered sea turtle species in their natural habitat as well as to promote public awareness by further collaborating with local communities and national authorities.  Our primary goals are:

• to map and identify beaches used as nesting sites.
• to identify species diversity and numbers.
• to engage and establish a relationship with the local communities enabling us to include them in our conservation efforts.
• to monitor and remove plastic waste and other harmful products from the beaches.

Volunteers are met at the Nosy Be International airport upon arrival and, weather permitting, transferred via boat to MRCI’s Turtle Beach camp on Ampoagna.

Volunteers are given a tour of camp followed by an orientation and a health and safety briefing.

Volunteers are trained in species identification, equipment usage and data collection protocols to prepare them for the hands-on work to come. Volunteers will also receive information on our goals and how to best assist us in achieving them.

Once training has been completed, volunteers are placed in the field. Volunteers are divided into groups and, accompanied by a MRCI staff member, are dropped by boat at various locations of interest to conduct the survey work.

Two species of turtle are monitored; the critically endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the endangered Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas).

Sadly, population numbers of both species are in decline with harvesting of eggs, hatchlings and adults being the primary threat. Hawksbill turtle numbers have fallen by as much as 80% in the last 10 years, and the annual number of nesting female Green Sea Turtle species has declined by up to 67% over the last 3 generations. This has left both species at high risk of extinction if nothing is done to safeguard their future.

The Green Sea turtle is the most widespread and well-known species in tropical and sub-tropical waters. They are the largest of the hard-shell turtle species and can grow up to 120cm in shell length and can weigh over 136kg. The name Green Sea Turtle derives from the colour of their fat, rather than the colour of their shell. The colour of their shells can range from a yellow/green to a reddish/brown to sometimes almost black.

Hawksbills Sea Turtle species are also found in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Adult Hawksbill Sea Turtles can grow to 90cm in shell length and can weigh up to 91kg. The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is named for its pointed, sharp bird-like beak. The shell of the Hawksbill Sea Turtle has a “tortoise shell” colour that ranges from dark to golden brown, with streaks of orange, yellow, brown and black. This is the only sea turtle that has overlapping scutes on the top shell (similar to roof shingles).

The basic volunteer beach patrol protocol when a turtle is found is:

• Species is identified
• Carapace is measured
• Flippers are checked for calluses or notches (these indicate that the turtle has been previously tagged)
• Photographs are taken
• GPS location point is recorded

Volunteers spend their final few days back at MRCI’s Turtle Cove base camp completing data entries and debriefing.

START DATES
All year round	Every First Monday of the Month

PROGRAM COSTS
Volunteer Turtle Monitoring
1 WEEK	$680.00
2 WEEKS	$ 930.00
3 WEEKS	$ 1,180.00
4 WEEKS	$ 1,430.00
5 WEEKS	$ 1,680.00
6 WEEKS	$ 1,930.00
7 WEEKS	$ 2,180.00
8 WEEKS	$ 2,430.00
9 WEEKS	$ 2,680.00
10 WEEKS	$ 2,930.00
11 WEEKS	$ 3,180.00
12 WEEKS	$ 3,430.00

 Contact us to join our Sea Turtle Monitoring program today!

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Author: Emily Borth
12 February 2018

Cyclone Enawo slammed into the northeast coast of Madagascar on the 7th of March 2017 with the power of a category four hurricane, boasting wind gusts up to 270 kilometers per hour. ¹ Situated on the northwestern side of Madagascar, the island of Nosy Be was spared the brunt of the storm’s strength. None the less, winds picked up as the weakened cyclone approached and growing storm swell assaulted the shoreline relentlessly. For the small village of Marodoku on Nosy Be, Cyclone Enawo meant they lost a classroom, decimated by the power of the wind and water.

Before the storm, the tiny campus of EPP Ambanoro in Marodoku village consisted of four classrooms used to teach around 200 children who range in age from 3 all the way to 14 years old. Losing the classroom meant that two already full classes had to combine into one even larger class. Today with standing room only, the small room bursts at the seams unable to fit enough desks and chairs to seat the students in attendance. And the numbers aren’t the only problem.

The students are at two very different levels in their studies. This is where we meet Fazila and Shaima, two sisters who attend class here. Shaima, the older of the two, excels in her studies and just last week earned student of the week for her hard work and dedication. Despite her more advanced level, she and her sister Fazila now attend the same class with the same lessons. Though she is happy to mentor her sister, for Shaima, many of the lessons are repeats of material she has already mastered.

But not for much longer. Thanks to the hard work and fundraising efforts of Marodoku village, MRCI and our volunteers, construction of a brand-new classroom is almost complete. One MRCI volunteer, Joshua Damen in conjunction with Kimberley College in Australia, raised over $3,900 USD for this project. Back in November, MRCI founder David Bird along with our Community Coordinator Rojo Razafisalama Andofinoana and our Director of Operations Emily Borth, all met with Marodoka Village President, Hassane along with the school’s Head Mistress, Francoise.

Together, we planned out logistics of the new classroom including location and design. We opted to hire a specialist from within the village to oversee construction. Who better to look after the school than one of the parents, Wawa, a 43-year-old life-long resident of Marodoka whose 8-year-old son attends classes there. Today, his assistant Jacks helps paint the newly constructed classroom walls. Jacks hopes to one day become a construction specialist and builder himself. He learns by doing and watches Wawa closely, always eager to jump in on more technical tasks.

Parents check in daily on the progress of the new classroom. Through a translator, the villagers tell us they have never seen a “vazaha” (foreigner) working with the cement and helping with construction. “They are here for holiday, but they are helping build. It sets a good example.” Shaima, for her part, wants to do everything she can to make sure she gets into secondary school. In this region of Madagascar, at around 14 or 15 years old, students take an entrance exam to get accepted into a secondary school in the larger neighboring city of Hellville. She beams with excitement at the prospect of restarting advanced classes.

1. “Strongest cyclone in 13 years hits Madagascar.” AlJazeera.com. Al Jazeera Media Network, 06 Mar. 2017. Accessed 10 Feb. 2018.

 

Read More About MRCI’s Community Development Program

and Check Out Our Achievements Page!

2 February 2018

MRCI’s progress in environmental conservation and community development, including the establishment of a Marine Protected area and Agroforestry project, would not be possible without the hard work and cooperation of the people who live here. Side-by-side, hand-in-hand we work together with strong support from the community leaders and surrounding villages. This puts community development programs right at the heart and soul of MRCI.

Every week, our volunteers go out into the surrounding villages and help teach English classes with local teachers. They have the privilege of getting to know some incredible people over their weeks here. Meet Sylvain, on of our adult students originally from the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo. He came to Nosy be for work over a year ago and started taking English lessons with us a few months ago. His wife speaks a little English and he decided to learn so they can practice together, and he is well on his way to reaching his goal. At almost sixty, he is one of our oldest students. He comes to class, book and pens in hand and sits at the first table at the front bringing with him determination and a kind smile.

Sylvain, like most people here, makes his living off the land. Every day, he works hard selling fruits and vegetables in the market to support himself and his family. This is not an easy living, with lots of manual labor involved. Still he makes time to study diligently and attend class every single day like clockwork in the small village of Ampang on Nosy Komba island. We have seen so much incredible progress in his English in the months since he began with us, and he has earned student of the week more times than I can remember. He makes no excuse of time, age or anything else, instead brining only his incredible work ethic and resolution. He brings joy to those around him and sets a great example for us all.

Through Sylvain, we learn to take full advantage of the opportunities we have in life and work hard without giving up. The biggest barriers to achieving our dreams are those we set up ourselves. Through his dedication and hard work, Sylvain teaches us even more than we could ever teach him.

Authors: Emily Borth, Director of Operations
& Rojo Razafisalama Andofinoana, Community Development Liaison Officer

 

Find Out More About Our Community Development Program