Yachts For Science expands research to cover Northern Maldives. After receiving crucial local knowledge from fishers in the region, Manta Trust researchers have recently started researching a unique population of manta rays in the Northern Atolls of the Maldives. Basing themselves on the remote Makunudhoo atoll, which draws huge aggregations of reef manta rays to its vast lagoon, they have been researching the marine megafauna there since 2022. With pristine coral reefs, and diverse megafauna such as blue whales, tiger sharks, and Risso’s dolphins, Makunudhoo atoll, and the surrounding atolls, are incredibly unique. Being far from the capital, marine research in this region is limited, and many reefs remain unexplored. Further research in this area is crucial to better understand and ensure the future survival of manta populations in the region.

Meet Dr. Goodbody-Gringley, Director of Research and Education at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute. CCMI are looking for vessels visiting the Caymen islands that have between 2 – 6 days which can offer support to divers doing vital survey work. The aim of this project is to characterize the biodiversity of benthic and pelagic communities at two unexplored offshore seamounts and nearshore deep reefs using a combination of in-situ surveys, photogrammetry, benthic mapping, and genetic analyses.
Locations: Cayman Islands: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, 12-Mile Bank, Pickle Bank.
Berths Required: 2 – 8, min 2 divers.
Contact us to find out more.

This month YFS supported a collaboration between Project Seagrass, Swansea University and WWF, known as Seagrass Ocean Rescue. Over the last week Project Seagrass began a series of planting method trials in the intertidal zone across three different locations in the Solent: Priory Bay, Thorness and Beaulieu. To date, they have trialled the use of hessian bags, hessian seed ‘socks’ and Dispenser Injection Seeding (DIS), with hopes to trial more methods in the future. The trials aim to identify the most successful and efficient planting methods to enable increased germination survival in future restoration projects and to help further our understanding of restoration methods in a UK-context.

Project Seagrass is taking place in the Solent 18th – 21st March. Working with Dr Richard Unswroth, Associate Professor in marine ecology at Swansea University, where he uses field, desk based and aquaria research to solve real world problems in seagrass conservation and restoration. Richard’s expertise lie in the ecological structuring processes of seagrass meadows which has led to his leading role in seagrass restoration across the UK having led the UKs first major seagrass restoration project over in West Wales. The operation matched by YFS involves moving seagrass planting equipment from a loading point near Ryde and offloading the equipment on the beach at Priory Bay and again at Thorness Bay.

A new project being supported by YFS. Lydia runs Manta Watch NZ is an experienced marine ecologist and has worked with Manta rays since 2013. Watch more here. The biggest challenge for Manta Watch is consistent and quality time out in the field. The smaller vessels they use are heavily governed by weather, drastically reducing their time to data collect and tag. Larger vessels that can remain ‘on-station’ with better facilities onboard. This is where yachts for science is helping find Lydia and her team larger boats.

The bulk of the research is carried out between December and March, this is when the oceanic manta rays are most prolific in the Haruaki gulf and Northern NE cost of NZ North Island, from North Cape to East Cape. Would a project like this be of interest? Please contact Rosie@yachtsforscience.com for more information.

In 2018 scientists discovered a direct relationship between healthy seabird populations on islands and healthy reefs. Seabirds forage for food in the ocean they return to the islands and their droppings act as a natural fertiliser for the surrounding corals. Seabird densities and nitrogen deposition rates are 760 and 251 times higher, respectively, on islands where humans have not introduced rats. On rat-free islands, fish biomass and coral reef productivity is higher, with evidence that this may also provide some resilience to coral bleaching. Save Eagle Island is the Chagos Conservation Trust’s ambitious project that aims to ecologically restore the Chagos Archipelago’s second largest island and see the return of thriving seabird populations, and remove the rats. Yachts for Science is working together with Chagos Conservation trust finding yachts interested in supporting this project.

The Maldives is home to the world’s largest population of reef manta rays. However recently, a significant population of their larger cousins; the oceanic manta rays have been uncovered. Worryingly, this area is in close proximity to one of the world’s main oceanic manta fisheries in neighbouring Sri Lanka. Tens of thousands are killed every year for their gill plates. 800 manta rays have been identified, however, there are still many unknowns and continued observations are needed to confirm the timing and drivers of their movements. Yachts for Science is looking for vessels in the Maldives to take Simon and his team April – May 2023 for 10 days.

On November 10th join Yachts For Science at this year’s Explorer Yacht Summit in Monaco and discover new science projects. You will meet the world’s leading experts for a day of discussion and networking. Topics covered: The state of the explorer market. Ground-breaking projects. What will explorer yachts of the future look like? The latest design trends. The rise of the support vessel. Owner insight: Victor Vescovo on his underwater adventures. The growth of the adventure charter market. The philanthropic adventures of the 60-metre Seahawk.
Tickets available here.

Are you crossing the Atlantic this autumn Gilbrater to Caribbean? Meet Rebecca Rae Helm from GO Sea Science research funded by NASA. Rebecca is looking for with MY or SY crossing the Atlantic this year that would be interested in getting involved in a citizen project – Deploying Neuston nets at sea, towing a net once a day and recording the findings. The vessel should configure its towing set-up to ensure the net remains out of the stern wake turbulence and along-hull slipstream in order to get comparable and accurate surface plankton/plastic samples. This work will help her study the ocean’s surface which, paradoxically, is one of the most understudied habitats on earth. And because it also involves plastic pollution, her research will help us understand how plastic is impacting surface life. Please contact Rosie@yachtsforscience.com for more information.

Yachts For Science are currently supporting Basecamp Research Water Sampling. Shown here, Emma Bolton is using a portable lab to carry out water / marine sediment sampling, whilst vessels are doing sea trials or during deliveries. This vital DNA research has minimal impact to the vessels private programme or charters. The portable lab allows Basecamp to filter water and extract the DNA from water and marine sediment in the sampling locations the vessel is working in. This allows for analysis of biodiversity of the marine environment, providing insights which are made publicly available for diversity studies world-wide.