Mauri and welcome to the Research and Monitoring Unit
The research and Monitoring Unit (RMU) typically refers to a specialized department or team within the Coastal Fisheries division that focuses on conducting research and overseeing various monitoring activities. The specific functions and goals of an RMU can vary depending on the on the coastal division’s objectives, but here’s a general overview of what an RMU does:
Activites and Outcomes
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)
· The EIA is carried out for the purpose of assessing environmental issues in a marine survey or activities that have been done in a specific area .EIA can be carried out in various protocols which include Reef Benthos Transect, Soft Infaunal Quadrant and other benthic survey .
Outcome
· To identify environmental issues that will be caused from the impact of an activity or in terms of conducting EIA in marine surveys, EIA have been used to identify what marine species has been present in that area and how they will be impacted by the activity.
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Stock assessment
· Stock assessment can be define as a process which involves collecting, analyzing and reporting the condition of fish stock or other marine stocks mostly carried out in Marine Protected Areas or specific location required or requested .
Outcome
· To identify whether the fish or other marine stocks have been depleted or continue to grow well in a place where the stock assessment is carried out in terms of comparing the numbers with the past stock assessment being conducted.
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Ocean acidification
· This is a new activity that the Research and Monitoring Unit will work on funded by the Ocean Foundation Organization. Ocean acidification refers to the reduction in the Ph of the ocean over an extended period of time caused primarily by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere .This activity will involves collecting and testing of water samples on South Tarawa.
Outcome
· To test for ocean acidification to find ways in limiting ocean acidification issues and how to minimize the impact of ocean acidification it has on marine species
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Ciguatera
Ciguatera monitoring is an activity which tests for the present of ciquatoxins present in reef fishes on South Tarawa .The team has just been trained for testing of samples to tell whether the fish has ciquatera or not .
Outcome
· To test or identify which fish species has ciguatera so local people could have less chance in getting ciguatera from consuming on fish that have ciguatera.
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Translocation
· Translocation process is one way to relocate some marine specific population mostly invertebrates species from one location to another .The process involves relocating them to a location where they have been completely depleted at .
Outcome
· The outcome for this activity is to maximize the growing number of species being translocate into a new place where it is completely depleted
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Creel survey
· Creel survey is a method which document fishermen perspective regarding their catch. This involves going out to the market to meet fishermen upon their arrival and questions them using Ikasavea app .Thus this involves weighting each catch and measuring their size using SPC ruler . The information from Ikasavea app is then sync into SPC database as well as pictures being uploaded and then analyzing of each data is done on SPC database
Outcome
· To compare the number of catch from present and past years and tell whether the catch have been greater in size or less or have more or less or same quantity over different years .
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(2) Rehabilitation
Coral Planting
· Coral planting has been one of the RMU activity in which corals where planted on a table,and they were deployed in a specific site which the condition of that site best satisfies the need of a growing corals .A coral table is made from rod which is bended and mesh wire is placed upon it then corals where tied with a cable tie on cookies and placed on the table . Coral tables is set for being deployed
Outcome
· To maximize the number of corals growing to accommodate more marine species and become a breeding ground for some fish and other marine species.
Sea grass restoration
· Sea grass restoration involves relocating sea grass from one location to another in order to maximize the number of sea grass growing. This include taking up of sea grass from one location and digging small holes to plant sea grass in it .
Outcome
· To yield growing number of sea grass in one location which have no sea grass growing in it or have less sea grass growing.
Related Links
+686 75021099
info@mfmrd.gov.ki
