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D’Arros Island & St Joseph Atoll, Seychelles

SOSF D'Arros Research Centre

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The Research Centre

For over a decade, the D’Arros Research Centre (DRC) has conducted research that focuses on marine and tropical conservation in the Amirante Island group of the Seychelles. Together with the biological diversity and abundance of its sister atoll, St. Joseph, D’Arros Island provides an outstanding ocean observatory for scientific research and discovery. Since its establishment in 2004, DRC core research focuses on long-term data collection and monitoring programs, such as a coral reef and turtle monitoring, as well as targeted research projects.

The Projects

After becoming the Save Our Seas Foundation -D’Arros Research Centre in 2012, the SOSF-DRC was able to significantly further its research goals and reach. In addition to the ongoing core research programs, in 2016, SOSF-DRC supported eight targeted research projects, which include studies of 12 species, including vulnerable manta rays Manta alfredi, critically endangered hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata and endangered green turtles Chelonia mydas.

 

The Location

As the smallest African nation, the Republic of the Seychelles is made up of 115 islands covering 459 kilometres squared of total landmass. Scattered approximately 1,600km off the coast of Kenya, D’Arros Island and St Joseph Atoll lie roughly 225km southwest of Mahé at 5°S of the equator as part of the Amirantes Island group of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles.

The sandy beaches of D’Arros wrap 5km around it and its highest elevation is 3m. D’Arros Island is separated from St Joseph Atoll by a deep channel to the east, roughly 1km wide and some 60m deep. St Joseph Atoll consists of several named vegetated islands, the largest of which is its namesake, St Joseph Island. The inner lagoon of St Joseph is entirely enclosed at low tide and is roughly 7m at its deepest

Latest centre news
Homebodies at heart; the movements of reef mantas in the Amirantes
By Lauren de Vos, 12th July 2019
Reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) are homebodies at heart, keen to keep closer than we’d previously imagined to D’Arros Island and the neighbouring St Joseph Atoll. This finding, part of a new study that details the movements of reef mantas in the Amirante Islands of Seychelles using acoustic telemetry, places…
New fish species discovered at D’Arros Island
By Lauren de Vos, 27th May 2019
A tiny, candy-striped fish gaping goggle-eyed from its hiding place below the overhang on a coral reef is easily overlooked. “Once one knows what to look for and where to look, it is relatively easy to find them”, explains Dr Ryan Daly, former Research Director of the SOSF D’Arros Research…
Meet the new kids (fish) on the block (reef)
By Jade Schultz, 19th April 2018
A new paper published by the Save Our Seas Foundation D’Arros Research Centre Directors, Ryan Daly and Clare Keating Daly, and Manta Trust Founder, Guy Stevens suggests that marine areas of the Amirantes Island group in the Republic of Seychelles may be underestimated in terms of species diversity. To shed…
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ADDRESS
SOSF D’Arros Research Centre
D’Arros Island
Amirante Island Group, Outer Islands
Seychelles

About SOSF D'Arros Research Centre

To preserve and showcase the ecological integrity of D’Arros Island and St Joseph Atoll through research, monitoring, restoration and education.

Registered international not-for-profit foundation in Switzerland (Reg No: 081.351.201 | IDE: CHE-110.230.312). Registered US nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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