Celebrating Fish Diversity at Tuamotu Archipelago with Living Oceans

Fish Diversity at Tuamotu

Typically each dive site hosts a large diversity of fish and fish schools, including apex predators, such as sharks, groupers, and snappers.

Large groupers are more abundant in the Tuamotus

There were many more fish near channels and on reefs with very high relief and high coral cover. Reefs dominated by fleshy algae, especially the lagoonal reefs, and areas damaged by storms had many fewer fish, but in general still reflected higher fish diversity than in the Society Islands.

Fish Diversity: Schools of fish inhabit the reefs

Though we are not studying fishing pressure on the reefs around French Polynesia, it is apparent that there are fewer fish being caught here due to their larger size, greater abundance and higher fish diversity when compared to the Society Islands.

(Photos by: 1 – 2 Dr. Brian Beck, 3 Serge Andrefouet)

If you liked this blog, you might also like reading about Fish Spotting in Jamaica.

From Mangrove Mud to Meaningful Work: Desta’s J.A.M.I.N. Journey

Some students I remember for their grades, their quick answers, or a moment that made the whole class laugh. Others I remember for the way they stepped into the mangroves.

Desta was the kind of student who thrived outdoors. While some students hesitated at the edge of the mud, he walked right in. And when he inevitably got stuck — because everyone does — he didn’t get frustrated. He laughed. Covered in mud, holding mangrove propagules in his hands, he embraced the experience fully.

Even then, it was clear that he was connecting with the environment in a way that went beyond the lesson plan…

From Students to Stewards: A Full-Circle Moment for J.A.M.I.N.

There are certain faces you never forget.

Over the years, hundreds of students have stepped into mangrove forests with us through the Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature (J.A.M.I.N.) program. I may not always remember every name, but I remember the expressions — the hesitation before stepping into thick mud, the laughter when someone loses a shoe, the look of surprise when they catch that unmistakable sulfur smell rising from the mangrove soil…

Fish Diversity at Tuamotu

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From Mangrove Mud to Meaningful Work: Desta’s J.A.M.I.N. Journey

From Students to Stewards: A Full-Circle Moment for J.A.M.I.N.