Rescue and release of Lobsters 2016

Lobsters and reef crabs are an important part of the coral reef ecosystem.  Unfortunately large crustaceans taste good to people and the reef population is much smaller than it should be.  To help balance the eco system it is important that we have as much biodiversity as possible.  The role of lobsters in the ecology of a damaged reef is not well known but as major predators they clearly affect a wide range of prey, from starfish and clams to other crustaceans.

Moving rescued lobsters back to the reef

There were a few lobsters on the island (surveys to 2016 counted 4 at 3 different places),  this lobster release should increase the breeding population with dispersal of larvae over long distances.
Unfortunately lobster biology is complex,  larval lobsters live in the plankton for many months and so the lobster parent reef can be many thousands of kilometres from the reef where the juveniles settle. 

TRACC negotiated with a commercial lobster farm and managed to buy 12 lobsters for wholesale price.

 

Long life on the reef rather than a quick boiling in a saucepan.

The lobsters were moved to Pom Pom and released close to the lobster reefs and the deep tyre reefs.

Rescue and release of Lobsters 2016

Lobsters and reef crabs are an important part of the coral reef ecosystem.  Unfortunately large crustaceans taste good to people and the reef population is much smaller than it should be.  To help balance the eco system it is important that we have as much biodiversity as possible.  The role of lobsters in the ecology of a damaged reef is not well known but as major predators they clearly affect a wide range of prey, from starfish and clams to other crustaceans.

Moving rescued lobsters back to the reef

There were a few lobsters on the island (surveys to 2016 counted 4 at 3 different places),  this lobster release should increase the breeding population with dispersal of larvae over long distances.
Unfortunately lobster biology is complex,  larval lobsters live in the plankton for many months and so the lobster parent reef can be many thousands of kilometres from the reef where the juveniles settle. 

TRACC negotiated with a commercial lobster farm and managed to buy 12 lobsters for wholesale price.

 

Long life on the reef rather than a quick boiling in a saucepan.

The lobsters were moved to Pom Pom and released close to the lobster reefs and the deep tyre reefs.
 
The lobster release story
Coral cat shark rescue 2013    --    Cat sharks 2015
Humphead wrasse  rescue (2013)  -   HHW survey 2016 
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If you want to help with any marine conservation activity, please 
check our website http://tracc.org or e-mail info@tracc-borneo.org 

For more updates on TRACC check out our Facebook, Twitter or Google +

More Marine conservation projects

Reef conservation would not be possible without generous financial support from

GEF /SGP for Malaysia who are helping our community activities and coralreefcare.com who generously provided materials to build the new reefs.

If visits to Tracc are not possible then please help with financial support for coral. shark or lobster rescue programmes.  Please follow the TRACC marine conservation projects on Facebook.

Marine science fieldwork on Mangroves

Getting up close and personal with mangrove ecosystems

The marine science A level taught by TRACC each year has lots of practicals so students get fieldwork experience in a wide range of ecosystems.

Update Overall results 2015 are awesome plus Tom Gibson was the best marine science student in the world.

These are some of the photos taken during our trips to study mangrove forests.

Other field trips studied Fisheries, Rockyshores, Coasts, plus underwater biodiversity and ecology studies.

Floating quietly around the mangroves we caught glimses
of the biggest herbivore
- the endangered, endemic proboscis monkey

 The 2016 Marine Science A-level will be running from 18th January - 2nd May (following the Cambridge exam timetable). 

For more information, please check our website or e-mail info@tracc-borneo.org

Serious science looked at biological adaptations
to the environment - these are mangrove seeds
which are producing roots before they leave the tree.

The best way to understand mangroves
is to get up close and personal with the mud