Science in the sun: My memorable internship on D’Arros Island

D’Arros Island and the St Joseph Atoll are truly unique and ecologically significant marine environments. My name is Emily Souffe and I am a recent graduate of the Seychelles Maritime Academy, studying Fisheries Science and Fishing Technology. From a young age, I developed a deep passion for the ocean, the natural environment, and the diverse organisms that inhabit these ecosystems. This early interest has guided my academic and professional pursuits, with a strong focus on marine conservation and sustainable fisheries management.
My internship with the Save Our Seas Foundation-D’Arros Research Centre commenced on February 23rd, marking the beginning of a transformative three-month experience. I participated in all of their long-term monitoring projects namely, turtle monitoring, trash data Collection, manta ID, MantaCams, manta surveys, forest rehabilitation, juvenile shark PIT tagging, Coral Point Count (CPC), some acoustic receivers and pelagic BRUVS deployments.

Emily obtaining a manta ID during a routine manta survey. Photo by Ellie Moulinie | © Save Our Seas Our Seas Foundation

I got the opportunity to interact with different scientists and witnessed first-hand how they plan and execute their research projects. The D’Arros Experience kids camp was a really fun experience as well, as I presented twice in both weeks which helped me gain so much confidence in myself and in my abilities andI believe it will be very useful in my future career. Trips to the St Joseph Atoll was something that I always looked forward to. You know when you go somewhere and all your thoughts disappear and you are just living in the moment, just taking it all in? That is what it felt like every time. What made my time even more special was how the team operated, they were the true definition of teamwork. There was a balance between field work and office work which was really well managed.

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Coming out of this internship, the word to describe how I am feeling is grateful. As a person who wants to pursue a career in marine conservation, this was a very positive and eye-opening experience. I am confident that the knowledge, skills and insights gained during that period will have a lasting impact on both my professional development and personal growth. With that, I would like to express my gratitude and thank the SOSF-DRC for this amazing opportunity.