Saving sharks in the Seychelles
SHOW NOTES
Close your eyes and imagine a tropical paradise. What you’re picturing is most likely very close to D’Arros island and it’s sister atoll, St Joseph, both located in the outer islands of the Seychelles. White sand beaches, lush green vegetation, turquoise waters. Everywhere bursting at the seams with life; vibrant coral gardens packed with reef fishes, juvenile sharks and rays cruising in the shallows, cetaceans riding the surf and seabirds wheeling overhead. D’Arros is often labelled as a ‘near pristine wilderness’, and held as an example of what a healthy, productive ecosystem could look like if it was managed correctly. But why has this environment continued to thrive? In this episode, we meet Ellie and Dillys – research officers at the Save Our Seas Foundation D’Arros Research Centre (SOSF-DRC) – to take a trip to paradise and learn about the amazing diversity of life that can be found there, and all the hard work that has gone into protecting it.
Dillys and Ellie began working at the DRC in 2020, but they have spent their entire lives forming a connection with nature in the Seychelles, both above and beneath the waves [12.40]. Ellie grew up in a fishing family, on the largest of the Seychelles’ 115 islands, Mahé. She remembers being encouraged to explore the ocean from a young age, visiting her Grandmother by the sea and heading out on fishing trips with her siblings. As she grew, she wanted to explore further and further offshore, beyond the reefs that fringe the island. Like Ellie, Dillys’ upbringing was also centred around the water. Growing up on Praslin, which lies 44km to the northeast of Mahé, Dillys had the ocean on her doorstep. She recalls buying fresh fish directly from the fishermen, or even fishing herself with her sister. But their mother taught them from an early age to release the smallest ones back into the sea, saying that their parents would be worried about them! Dillys also participated in many environmental clubs at school, and remembers the strong affinity of the islanders for the natural world. This message of respect and stewardship for the environment is one that Dillys has carried throughout her life. Similarly, Ellie discovered a passion for conservation through her adventures; learning about the vibrant marine life through diving, boating and later, university.
Now, as research officers for the SOSF-DRC, Ellie and Dillys are living their dream of researching and protecting one of the wildest places on earth [15.10]. No two days are the same for them. One day, they might be collecting data for one of the centre’s long-term monitoring programmes – heading out with Rob and Henriette, research and programme directors, to monitor one of the many shark species, tag some turtles, or find out what the manta rays are up to (more on this later!). Another day, they could be assisting visiting researchers in the field, or helping to train interns and volunteers. It is this variety that Ellie loves the most: “it’s a big adventure, everyday” she says.
The Seychelles consist of 115 islands, each with their own unique characteristics [18.00]. Broadly, the islands can be split into two. The Granitic, or ‘inner’ islands, are mountainous and green. In the ‘outer’ islands, also known as the Coralline islands, the ocean is more the star of the show. D’Arros is located in the latter, as part of a small chain of islands known as the Amirantes group. These are famous for their productivity, boasting many different habitats that are important feeding, breeding and nursery grounds for a huge diversity of species – including many different sharks and rays. However, exploitation in the first half of the 20th century threatened the native wildlife. Almost all of the native forests were converted to coconut plantations, and the surrounding waters are known to this day as rich fishing grounds. In the 1970s, D’Arros came under private ownership and later in 2012, the SOSF-DRC became tasked with preserving and showcasing the ecological integrity of D’Arros and St. Joseph, through restoration, research, conservation and education. Over the last decade, the presence of SOSF on D’Arros has ensured the protection and recovery of its natural environment; preventing harmful activities like poaching, carefully restoring the native vegetation and informing management plans and protective measures by providing robust scientific evidence.
Growing up, both Dillys and Ellie were aware of the natural beauty of the Seychelles, the importance of nature, and the connection the Seychellois had to the environment [23.22]. But D’Arros – like all the islands – is special in its own way. The Amirantes themselves are described as a wilderness, and still relatively little is known about the marine life there. As Ellie says, it is a place full of secrets waiting to be discovered – you never know what you might find. The fact that she gets to explore this place, and investigate some of those mysteries, is a true joy. Dillys explains that for her, one of the most special things about D’Arros and St. Joseph is that they are perfect examples of how you can turn things around [26.00]. Through years of hard work and dedication by scientists and conservationists, the natural environment has been returned to its near natural state. Populations of native wildlife, like the white-tailed tropic bird, have flourished, and having these species back in their natural roles has helped the ecosystem to “live again”.
So what kind of habitats might we find when exploring the Amirantes [28.30]? As Ellie describes, there are sandy beaches, seagrass beds, intertidal zones, coral reefs, lagoons, mangroves, coconut and native forests, and deep water drop-offs right beside shallow areas. All these habitats are interlinked – Dillys explains that guano from the birds living in the native forests is thought to provide nutrients to the marine ecosystems, for example. All of these habitats support a huge diversity of life, including many different sharks and rays [29.40]. Juvenile black-tip reef sharks, sicklefin lemon sharks and nurse sharks hang out in the shallows, while out in the open bull, grey reef and tiger sharks roam. D’Arros and St. Joseph are also home to the largest population of manta rays in the Seychelles. Over 300 of the 400 known individuals can be found here, drawn by the productive waters, promise of food, and availability of cleaning stations – a key requirement for mantas. They feast on plankton during the day and head into the deep at night. Part of Ellie and Dillys’ job is to monitor the mantas, taking part in weekly boat surveys, sometimes freediving alongside them to take ID photos, or investigating potential cleaning stations.
In fact, long-term monitoring is the hallmark of the SOSF-DRC [34.00]. As well as the mantas, Ellie, Dillys and the rest of the team collect data on many other marine species. For example, they have an ongoing mark-recapture study for juvenile black-tip reef sharks and sicklefin lemon sharks to monitor the growth patterns and movements of the two species. A similar long-term study is in place for mangrove whip rays, porcupine rays and feathertail rays. And acoustic receivers placed outside the atoll gather data from larger sharks roaming further offshore. These studies are contributing to a vital knowledge base for the sharks and rays that call D’Arros and St Joseph home, indicating the needs and movements of each species and helping to inform conservation strategies.
As well as assisting with the long-term monitoring programmes and other research carried out at the SOSF-DRC, Dillys and Ellie also lead their own independent projects [36.49]. Dillys is delving further into the life of the D’Arros manta rays by investigating the critical prey threshold. Mantas will only start feeding once there is a certain amount of plankton – their main food source – in the water. However, what that amount is remains a mystery. While conducting manta surveys, Dillys also collects samples of seawater to take back to the lab, where she analyses them to calculate the biomass of plankton. Dillys also collects other environmental data – such as temperature and salinity – to try and work out what is driving plankton distribution in the area.
Ellie’s project is working alongside the mark-recapture study on juvenile sharks [38.13]. She collects faceal DNA, or fDNA, and analyses it using DNA metabarcoding to determine what the sharks are feeding on. This will help to generate a baseline of the diet composition of these juvenile sharks, which Ellie then hopes to recreate for other life stages. Both projects will help with management plans for D’Arros and St. Joseph, particularly with the new Marine Protected Area (MPA), as they will provide essential information on what is needed for these species to survive and thrive.
But D’Arros isn’t just about research. Another core focus of the centre is education, and encouraging other young Seychellois to get involved in science and conservation [42.10]. The ‘D’Arros Experience’ is an opportunity for young people across the islands to attend a two-week camp on D’Arros and experience such a pristine environment. Attendees learn about the diverse habitats and the life that they support through lectures, before heading out into the field for more hands-on learning – holding a shark in their hands, going for a snorkel, or exploring the island’s forests. Ellie says that allowing children to see and feel this environment for themselves is crucial to their later engagement in its protection – something that Dillys, who attended similar camps herself as a child, can attest to.
But what can the rest of us learn from D’Arros [45.40]? For Dillys, sharing the work of the SOSF-DRC is crucial. Through social media, the team showcase what has been done, and what wildnerness could look like if given the chance. Dillys believes that this can offer people hope for their own local environments, and inspire others to take up the challenge of protecting their wild spaces. Ellie agrees. The Seychelles as a whole is leading by example – a small island nation that is making big moves for conservation. Ellie hopes that others will learn from their commitment to marine protection: “nothing is easy, but everyone has come together to make it work.”
ABOUT OUR GUESTS
ELLIE MOULINIE
RESEARCH OFFICER
Born and raised in Seychelles, Ellie loves the island life. She comes from a family of fishermen living next to the ocean, so school holidays meant enjoying the sun and sea every day and, as a strong swimmer, especially snorkelling and diving. Her love of animals, nature and the ocean and her desire to visit all 115 islands in Seychelles influenced her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in environmental science at the University of Seychelles. Only after learning how to dive did she realise that she wanted to specialise in marine science and fisheries. As an intern for Global Vision International she learnt about fish and marine invertebrates and their importance, and how to conduct surveys to monitor them. She ventured further into marine research by volunteering with the NGO Green Island Foundation, helping to conduct surveys on islands such as North, Denis and Fregate. In 2018 Ellie joined an Earthwatch team on Curieuse Island, where she participated in its Coral Communities in Seychelles Project.
Always moving her career in conservation forward, Ellie most recently worked with the Seychelles Islands Foundation as a field research officer on Aldabra Atoll, where her tasks consisted of conducting terrestrial surveys on the flora and fauna as well as marine research as part of Aldabra’s annual marine monitoring programme. As a young emerging scientist and conservationist, she believes it is her duty and responsibility to do her part to protect global ecosystems and threatened species against anthropogenic stressors and the effects of climate change that are causing the loss of biodiversity.
Instagram: @miss_tropics
DILLYS POUPONEAU
RESEARCH OFFICER
Originally from Praslin Island, home of the largest nut in the world (coco de mer), Dillys had some amazing experiences as a member of environmental clubs during her school years and these taught her the importance of protecting biodiversity. They inspired her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, specialising in tropical biodiversity conservation, at the University of Seychelles.
As a young environmental conservationist with an interest in all living things and habitat types, Dillys has had the privilege of working on numerous terrestrial and marine projects, ranging from scientific research to environmental education and sustainability projects on several islands in Seychelles. She also has a strong interest in well-preserved biodiverse ecosystems, which she enjoys capturing on video and in photographs that enable her to raise awareness and engage people’s interest. She is keen to fill her professional and private life with anything that is fun, artistic, creative, exploratory and adventurous, as long as it is in the wild. Dillys wishes to pursue her studies further and develop the necessary skills required to become a great scientist and nature photographer and videographer.
Her career began at the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, where she worked as a field research assistant before undertaking her academic degree. After finishing at university, she was employed as the sustainability manager at a five-star hotel and most recently she worked as the assistant conservation officer with the Island Conservation Society. She worked on Silhouette Island (93% national park and surrounding marine park) and at Aride Island Special Reserve and Marine Protected Area, where she coordinated conservation projects and managed a team of eight.
Instagram: @dillyseychelles
D’Arros Research Centre: @darrosresearchcentre, https://saveourseas.com/sosf-darros-research-centre
