Aldabra (Seychelles): The UK based Nekton has been on a mission to access the depths of the Indian Ocean from the beginning of March. Till now they have arrived at the Indian Ocean island of Aldabra, part of the Seychelles. Aldabra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site teaming with corals and sharks.
Aldabra is famous for its underwater beauty. It has abundant marine life. It is home to rarely seen species like batfish, butterfly fish and parrot fish. An estimated 118 species live in Aldabra.
Jude Brice, manager of the research station for the Seychelles Islands Foundation has been here for twelve years. He says that the sea waves never fail to fascinate him.
"Wow, for me it's like another world you know. It's like there's so much and it's so lively, it's just incredible," says Brice.
These waters are lucky for the fishes residing here. Till now they have been safe from human exploitation. Sharks, that are on a dangerous decline around the world's oceans are abundant here. They are killed for their fins. But not here. They can swim freely in the waters around the Seychelles.
Another relief for the scientists is the flourishing coral reefs under the uncharted waters. The coral here is just as prone to bleaching from the seas as it is elsewhere, but here it recovers almost certainly because the ban on fishing means there's plenty of herbivores to graze on algae which would otherwise smother the reef.
Coral researcher April Burt says: "Places like Aldabra and other reefs within the region may act as kind of nurseries and places where coral will be able to spew out that larvae to repopulate those other areas which are not so lucky to be protected, but you know may ensure the persistence of coral reefs for the future."
Around 40 organisations have supported Nekton in its Ocean Mission. The mission will research on several parts of the Indian Ocean for three years. The research team will place its findings at a summit on the state of the Indian Ocean which is planned for 2022.
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