Coral reefs are highly biodiverse ecosystems which are threatened by overfishing, destructive fishing practices, pollution, and climate change. Reef management practices with a sound scientific basis can help mitigate these effects and foster healthier, more resilient reef systems. Small island developing states (SIDS) like Grenada, are grappling with the challenge of balancing economic activities, such as fishing and tourism, with the need to protect and conserve their coral reefs.
This collaborative MSc project between St George’s University,Grenada and Atlantic Technological University, Ireland will compare fish biomass and relative species abundance on coral reef sites in Grenada to assess effectiveness of MPA management.
It will also provide essential baseline data for fish communities and contribute to a larger scale regional database to inform future monitoring efforts.
The research will be highly beneficial to local communities, policymakers and the broader scientific community and deliver a thorough analysis of the effects of various management strategies on fish biomass and community composition.
It is hoped the proposed research will seed a long-term productive collaboration between ATU and St George’s,and pave the way for further knowledge transfer, training exchanges and collaborative research activities.
