PRÎSM

PRÎSM is a scientific project monitoring the living organisms of the reef. It is supporting local structures (PCADDISM) wanting to develop Marine PRotected Areas (MPAs) around the island and find solutions to the degradations of its natural environments


The Sainte-Marie Island is located on the East coast of Madagascar. It is 60 kilometers long, and 5 kilometers broad : a needle on the Indian ocean. The barrier reef goes along the East coast and draws a ring around the Southern coast.
Thanks to the local fisherman expertise, scientific studies and scuba divers observations, it is clear that the reef around the island is undergoing general degradation, along with a diminution of the coral cover, the amount of fish species and the size of the individuals.

Witnessing the significance of reef health status for the well being of the population ( 75% of the population is living on fisheries), actors on the island created the PCADDISM (Platform for Local Consultation regarding the Sustainable Development of Sainte-Marine Island). This platform is supported by the GRET (Research Group for Exchanges and Technologies) framed by the GIZC project (Integrated Management of the Coastal Regions), funded by the FFEM (French Fund for World Environment) and the COI (Indian Ocean Commission). The purpose of this project is to enhance the impact of local actors on the protection of their natural environment, for example by creating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).


In November 2017, the MAREX scientific team (expertise and advice in marine environment) was invited on Sainte-Marie and funded by the COI (Indian Ocean Commission). With the logistic support of the BORA DIVE and RESEARCH center, this team dived on 57 GPS locations around the island in order to establish an ecological diagnostic of the marine coastal zones.

According to this study, scientists selected 5 stations and monitored their bentic and fishes characteristics as a reference status for further monitoring (refer to Scientific Reports section).


Following this scientific survey, the PRÎSM idea started to grow. Under the impulse of Jean Loncle and Luciano Landry, an independent team came together, composed of photographers, divers and scientists, and created the PRÎSM organisation.
Thanks to private funds, the collaboration of the BORA DIVE and RESEARCH center and the financial support of the CETAMADA organisation (Conservation of Marine Mammals and their Habitats in Madagascar), PRÎSM organised a training session with MAREX in 2018, in order to train its members to level 1 GCRMN techniques for monitoring the health status of coral reefs and biological organisms identification.

After this training, the PRÎSM team decided to set up 4 data collections for fishes (January, April, June and November) and one reef transect every year (November). The first monitoring happened in April 2018.


In 2019, PENYCOMMIN TRUST FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION decided to fund the project with a long term vision, crucial for this kind of studies. At the same moment, PRÎSM started to collaborate with CORDIO (COastal Ocean Research and Development – Indian Ocean) in order to share its data for regional and world reports on reef health status.

In December 2019, the scientific team of MAREX is called again on the island in order to provide a level 2 GCRMN training to the PRÎSM members. Since January 2020, transects are done with this new level of accuracy.

The long term goal of PRÎSM is to document and evaluate the health status of the reef, the evolution of the fish population and the barrier coral composition. This project will lead to options for the  local population regarding MAPs and LMMAs (Locally Managed Marine Areas).

 
 
This site is registered on wpml.org as a development site. Switch to a production site key to remove this banner.