Tabuaeran, Kiribati

February 2020

Team: Dr. Jacob Eurich, Keegan Bell, Toaea Teawatei (MFMRD), Tebatei Kourabi (MFMRD)

Lead Organisation: Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara

Partners: Kiribati MFMRD

The Interactive Dynamics of Reef Fisheries and Human Health team arrived to the Line Islands for the first time and were greeted with fantastic weather. However, despite great conditions the team battled through inconvenient tides (swell pictured) and challenging logistics. Tabuaeran is quite remote with only one flight a week; thus, receives very few visitors and supplies. Meetings with the Island Council and local staff took time - but were extremely rewarding. Being at a new island chain, the team successfully trained two new local MFMRD members in our research protocols and sampling design. While we were unable to complete our expected sites, we finished with fish assemblage, invertebrate, benthic, water quality, and socio-economic data across 21 sites and 3 villages. We left humbled by local gifts (shark teeth weapons from subsistence fishermen, pictured mid), new knowledge, and exciting experiences. I am eager to get back!

Tabiteuea South, Kiribati

December 2019

Team: Dr. Jacob Eurich, Keegan Bell, Aranteiti Tekiau (MFMRD), Rateiti Vaimalie (MFMRD)

Lead Organisation: Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara

Partners: Kiribati MFMRD

A local boat ferry away from the northern end of a long islet system sits Tabiteuea South. Despite the close proximity, Tabiteuea South is a completely different socioeconomic system with subtle differences in island geomorphology and reef community structure. As scientists, we were excited for these differences and we were not disappointed. The Interactive Dynamics of Reef Fisheries and Human Health team collected fish assemblage, invertebrate, benthic, water quality, and socio-economic data across 24 sites and 3 villages with additional ciguatera sampling at a known source location. Sample collection at the ciguatera site from local fishers is pictured (left). The team also engaged with the communities about the methods and purpose of our research (pictured mid) and learned about the important inter-island trade of giant clams (right).

Tabiteuea North, Kiribati

November 2019

Team: Dr. Jacob Eurich (pictured), Keegan Bell, Aranteiti Tekiau (MFMRD), Rateiti Vaimalie (MFMRD)

Lead Organisation: Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara

Partners: Kiribati MFMRD

The Interactive Dynamics of Reef Fisheries and Human Health team was based at Tabiteuea North for two weeks and collected fish assemblage, invertebrate, benthic, water quality, and socio-economic data across 24 sites and 3 villages. Rateiti Vaimalie from MRMRD joined the team and learned our methods. She assisted with the sample collections, fisher interviews, and data processing. We spent slightly longer sampling here than other islands because the team was documenting recent coral bleaching and mortality (pictured). The Island Council was eager to learn about coral bleaching and the impacts that the event may have on their resources. Good news, the bleaching was fairly localised and was not observed on the fore-reef. It ended up being a great opportunity for local capacity building and training.

Onotoa, Kiribati

November 2019

Team: Dr. Jacob Eurich, Keegan Bell, Aranteiti Tekiau (pictured, MFMRD)

Lead Organisation: Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara

Partners: Kiribati MFMRD

Our southernmost island in the Gilbert Chain. This island is certainly about as remote as it gets! One flight a week, limited to no communication, internet, or power. Despite this, Onotoa was one of our favorite islands because of the traditional and cultural experiences (pictured right) - not to mention the locals were lovely. We hit the ground running with the assistance of a lovely retired MFMRD Fisheries Officer who was managing the island’s fish center, Terruka Taaera. The Interactive Dynamics of Reef Fisheries and Human Health team collected fish assemblage, invertebrate, benthic, water quality, and socio-economic data across 24 sites and 3 villages. We also conducted sampling for ciguatera poisoning at a hot-spot upon request from the Island Mayor, Teuarai Tion.

Abemama, Kiribati

August 2019

Team: Dr. Jacob Eurich, Keegan Bell, Aranteiti Tekiau (MFMRD), Haley Barravecchia (HU) - all pictured

Lead Organisation: Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara

Partners: Kiribati MFMRD, Harvard University

The Interactive Dynamics of Reef Fisheries and Human Health team collected fish assemblage, invertebrate, benthic, water quality, and socio-economic data across 24 sites and 3 villages. Upon arrival we met with the Abemama Island Council (pictured left) and learned of a ciguatera hot spot while discussing their community based fisheries management plans. Our team was able to survey the sites (pictured mid) and collect samples for later processing. We also replicated historical sites from MFMRD and hope to re-survey soon with SPC.

Butaritari, Kiribati

July 2019

Team: Dr. Jacob Eurich (pictured), Keegan Bell, Aranteiti Tekiau (MFMRD), Haley Barravecchia (HU), Eritera Aram (MFMRD) Dr. Katy Seto (UCSC), Dr. Jessica Gephart (AU)

Lead Organisation: Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara

Partners: Kiribati MFMRD, Harvard University, UC Santa Cruz, American University, SPC, and University of Wollongong

Our northernmost Gilbert Island of the project and a long-term site for our fisheries management and livelihood collaborators at University of Wollongong. The Interactive Dynamics of Reef Fisheries and Human Health team collected fish assemblage, invertebrate, benthic, water quality, ciguatera, and socio-economic data across 24 sites and 3 villages. Additionally, the marine policy and fisheries trade specialists from our team visited the villages that received our social and village resource survey administered by SPC and the Kiribati Government. We learned the importance of traditional knowledge and cultural balance within their mantis shrimp fishery (pictured).

North Tarawa, Kiribati

June 2019

Team: Dr. Jacob Eurich, Keegan Bell (pictured), Aranteiti Tekiau (MFMRD)

Lead Organisation: Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara

Partners: Kiribati MFMRD

A quick ferry across the lagoon is a completely different island than its southern counterpart. We arrived and were greeted by the Mayor, offered accommodation, and got straight into the resources available, active fisheries, and past disturbances. We learned about the importance of fish traps (pictured right) when weather does not permit fishers to access the productive and easily accessible fishing grounds. The Interactive Dynamics of Reef Fisheries and Human Health team easily collected our fish assemblage, invertebrate (pictured mid), benthic, water quality, and socio-economic data across 21 sites and 3 villages. We wish we could have had more time at this island.

Abaiang, Kiribati

May 2019

Team: Dr. Jacob Eurich, Keegan Bell, Aranteiti Tekiau (pictured, MFMRD)

Lead Organisation: Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara

Partners: Kiribati MFMRD

The Interactive Dynamics of Reef Fisheries and Human Health team collected our fish assemblage, invertebrate, benthic, water quality, and socio-economic data across 15 sites and 3 villages at Abaiang. This was our first island for the project’s ecological and natural systems sampling. Thus, we conducted extensive training and capacity building with MFMRD Fisheries Officers prior to data collection. We trained them on identification to species level, underwater visual census techniques, soft infaunal quadrats (pictured mid) and upgraded boating and field safety. The team also surveyed a newly established no-take clam marine protected area for baseline data (pictured left), as requested by the Mayor and Island Council.