Formal _Phase_ Report Seychelles - Mahe 002- June 2009

Global Vision International,Seychelles - Mahé Report Series No. 002ISSN 1751-2255 (Print)

GVI Seychelles – Mahé

Marine Conservation ExpeditionPhase Report 002 April – June 2009

GVI Seychelles – Mahé/Marine Conservation Expedition Report 002 Submitted in whole to

Global Vision InternationalSeychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA)

Produced by

Lindsay Sullivan – Science Coordinator

And

Tim Kirkpatrick Country Director Genevieve Gammage Expedition ManagerBen Herington Expedition staff Rachel Mowll Expedition staffHazel Long Expedition staff Colin Watson Expedition staffAdriano Schonenberger Expedition Member Kyle Breen Expedition MemberAlice Walker Expedition Member Lila Brown Expedition MemberAmy Mickel Expedition Member Thomas Schonenberger Expedition MemberAntonia Stackelberg Expedition Member Niamh Kelly Expedition MemberChristina Leggett Expedition Member Norma Colmenares Expedition MemberChristine Knutsson Expedition Member Orla Fleming Expedition MemberDavid Fauchier Expedition Member Philip Ollerton Expedition MemberDavid Sexton Expedition Member Pip Churchyard Expedition MemberElizabeth Wollen Expedition Member Richard Vollenberg Expedition MemberEmma Spurs Expedition Member Ryan Shelley Expedition MemberGemma Turner Expedition Member Scott Meyer Expedition MemberGreg Vicary Expedition Member Shanna Nellis Expedition MemberJeffry Nagy

Expedition Member Thomas Shepherd Expedition MemberJessica Toms Expedition Member Tom Cripps Expedition MemberKim Locraft Expedition Member Zoe Carwardine Expedition Member

GVI Seychelles - Mahé/Marine Conservation Expedition

Address: GVI c/o SNPA, PO Box 1240, Victoria, Mahé, SeychellesEmail:Seychelles@gvi.co.uk Web page:http://www.gvi.co.ukandhttp://www.gviusa.com

Executive Summary

The 20

th

10-week phase of the Seychelles Global Vision International (GVI) Expedition onMahé has now been completed. This report summarises the science and local capacitybuilding programmes conducted during the phase, from April 3

rd

to June 12

th

2009.Underwater visual census (UVC) surveys were conducted to assess the reef at 18 sitesaround the North West coast of the island of Mahé, the largest and most populated in theSeychelles group. Line Intercept Transects (LITs) were used as a measure of benthicassemblage and belt transects were carried out to assess the diversity of coral and ofcertain invertebrates. Some changes were made to the LIT technique used on previousphases. It is expected that this change will reduce the impact of diver selection andtherefore more accurately represent the benthic assemblage.Overall the results indicate a decline in coral cover since the last surveys in October – December 2008. Contributing factors may include the change in methodology techniquesand high water temperatures, however further investigation is required.Bleaching of coral was observed to have increased at some of the sites monitored,particularly within the Baie Ternay Marine Park, however as there is currently noquantitative assessment of bleaching level this could not be viewed objectively. Planshave been drawn up to include a measure of bleaching in the next phase of coral surveys.Several sightings of whale sharks were made, with the details of the observationsdocumented and passed to the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS). Weeklyplankton samples were collected and passed to MCSS to assist in their ongoing whaleshark research. Several Expedition Members took part in a Crown of Thorns starfishremoval program coordinated by MCSS; more than 500 starfish were removed from a reefon the South of Mahé. In line with a regional drive in sea surface temperature research,GVI also assisted MCSS in the deployment of data loggers at two depths at two differentsites. Plans have been made to replace the loggers every three months going forward.While this phase has not coincided with the turtle nesting season, research has continuedinto the foraging behaviour and energy budgets of turtles with Baie Ternay Marine Park.Other projects continued this phase included lessons with the children from theInternational School of the Seychelles on a weekly basis, and a lot of work invested indevelopment of the GVI base on Curieuse, in preparation for its launch as a full expedition.