News straight from Indonesia to warm your heart at the start of this chilly year!

For the past two years, Mickael Racine, a PhD student in marine ecology at Planète Mer and the University of Montpellier, has been monitoring the corals of Raja Ampat, one of the richest marine biodiversity hotspots in the world. On site, he studies the success of coral restoration following destruction caused by destructive fishing methods, such as dynamite, and works closely with local communities through The Sea People. He tracks coral growth, species recolonization, and also observes impacts on local populations, including food security and tourism.

Thanks to your support, he has been able to carry out 141 scientific dives!

These dives cover three types of sites: unrestored areas, areas under restoration, and healthy sites never affected by dynamite fishing. He observes fish and corals at different stages of restoration.

Latest results: 380 fish species identified, with 2 to 3 times more fish on restored sites than on degraded reefs! Coral cover has increased from 13% to 46% in just 2 years.

Next steps for the remaining year: continue these analyses and process data on impacts at the level of local communities.

A true hope for this biodiversity jewel.

Important reminder: restoration must remain the last step, after pressures on the ecosystem have been removed, otherwise the new corals risk dying again.