Here We Are From Andavadoaka
We’ve been back on site now in Andavadoaka for nearly three weeks, and most of the dive training is out of the way. The remaining trainees should finish their Advanced open water in the next few days and they will...
BV Workshop
BV held a workshop over the weekend with the aim of presenting results from our on-going research and to introduce our new Socioeconomic Monitoring Project, which is part of the SocMon Western Indian Ocean (WIO) initiative aiming to expand socio-economic...
Sustainable Tourism Certification Programs
Sustainable tourism certification programs were under the spotlight at a consultative meeting sponsored and convened by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). There is still little quantifiable data available on the ability of these schemes to promote change. Consumer recognition...
And Back to Site…
It’s the start of a new expedition here in Andavadoaka, after an eventful week-long inter-phase in Toliara. Inter-phase (the period between two expeditions) is usually a time for permanent staff to stock up on provisions and to check emails, but...
A Bit About Site
Following another 27 hour epic boutre journey BV staff and new expedition 21 have arrived safe and sound on site. If only the same could be said for the site itself! Following the cyclone that hit on the 2nd some...
Go Mathieu Go
We would like to call for support for Madagascar’s 1st entrant into the winter olympics, 2006. Yes believe it or not this tropical island has entered its very own athlete, Mathieu Razanokolona (Canadian-born) in the slalom and giant slalom events....
Are These Guys Nit-picking or What??
Ok, we’re sorry. It would appear that the previous ‘Teeny Tiny Fish’ blog gave false information. It has been reported in the past couple of years that two other fish claim to be smaller still. These are the male stout...
They’ve Found Oil!
Madagascar’s oil potential has lead to hopes for development following the opening of an ExxonMobil operation on Friday. It is believed that the NW coast could have as much as 7-10 billion barrels of oil. Drilling for this source has...
Teeny Tiny Fish
An article on BBC News has reported that scientists have found one of the smallest fish on record in the peat swamps on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Measuring a mere 7.9mm, this fascinating of fish has abandoned some of...
Hello Goodbye and All The Stuff In Between
Another idyllic day today here in Andavadoaka: bright sunshine, blue sea, a gentle breeze rustling through the coconut palms – even the goats have given their dawn chorus a rest. Volunteers and staff are mostly out on dives, but some...
It’s Whaley Exciting
This is not necessarily conservation related, however it is aquatic and we think it’s interesting. Today in the Thames there has been an unexpected visitor – a northern bottle-nosed whale, which is 16-18ft long and is usually found in deep...
Who’s in Power Now?
It is good to see that some politicians are taking the issue of renewable energy seriously. David Cameron and some other members of his shadow cabinet took a “lunchtime challenge” to switch their household electricity supplies to renewable providers online....
Much Anticipated Site News
It’s rainy season here in Andavadoaka, which means impassable roads, no fresh bread, creaking huts and leaking roofs. It also means impressive sunsets, bok bok for breakfast, spectacular lightning and good drinking water. So on balance a good time to...
Fish Glorious Fish
As we mentioned previously we had eminent marine biologists visiting Andavadoaka to conduct some species surveys before Chirstmas. Here are some of the results they found: A total of 386 fish species belonging to 182 genera and 57 families were...
An Overdue Update
Firstly we’d like to say a belated (sorry!) welcome to Expedition 19, who joined the island in time to celebrate Christmas by the ‘eating ceremony’ of Sage and Onion, our ex-resident turkeys. Following this staff and volunteers headed down to...