ReefDoctor

ReefDoctor is a UK non-profit organization conducting coral reef research, conservation and awareness, in the Toliara province of South West Madagascar. Working in the small fishing village of Ifaty, 27 km north of Toliara, ReefDoctor promotes sustainable conservation through the provision of environmental and coral reef education, alongside a practical programme of resource management education for the villagers.
ReefDoctor’s commitment to sustainable conservation is at the heart of all of our activities - to work with local communities and organisations to realise marine conservation alongside positive social development.
ReefDoctor has established strong working relationships with local educational institutions, including the University of Tulear and the local marine institute, Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines (IHSM), and regional and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and conservation groups.
Objectives
ReefDoctor has been in Madagascar since January 2002 and concentrated its efforts on the lagoon and barrier/fringing reef system of the Bay of Ranobe, South Western Madagascar. It is based next to the main fishing and tourist villages of Ifaty and Mangili, 27 km north of the main provincial city of Toliara, the second largest city in Madagascar.
On its official website, ReefDoctor defines its core objectives:
Expeditions
The province of Toliara is one of the poorest in Madagascar and relies to a large extent on the reef for income and sustenance. This, alongside continued coastal development in the region, has caused a number of associated problems that have persuaded us to focus our efforts here.
The main problems facing the Bay of Ranobe area are:
*An increase in the local population and an influx of migrant fishermen;
*Intensive fishing activities in localised areas using techniques that result in physical damage to the marine environment and over exploitation of marine resources, especially in the lagoon reef system;
*Sustained high water temperatures in the lagoon leading to coral bleaching;
*High sedimentation rates due to deforestation of terrestrial forests and mangroves for agriculture, construction of homes and for fuel;
*Mass algal blooms caused by run-off from agricultural fertilisers, the output of human effluent from Toliara and coastal villages and over exploitation of the marine resources, which result in increased nutrients. These algal blooms smother the corals causing further reef degradation.
Through a programme of coral reef ecosystem research and monitoring, marine management and community development ReefDoctor hopes to help the local community learn more sustainable fishing practises, develop an understanding of the marine environment and manage its resources for positive development in the community over the short and long term.
Achievements
Reef health research
Since settling in Ifaty in 2002 one of ReefDoctor’s primary goals has been to establish a programme of marine health research. To this end exploratory surveys were conducted within the lagoon and on the exterior reef to establish monitoring sites for a programme of long-term surveys.
Marine management
The focus of ReefDoctor’s Marine management programme has been our Fisheries survey and Artificial habitat programme.
Community development
Since arriving in Ifaty in 2002, ReefDoctor has developed a strong relationship with the local primary school. This began by providing help to build a new dining room and store room for the school so that it would be able to receive funding from PAM (French arm of the World Food Organisation).
Education enrichment
ReefDoctor firmly believes in providing opportunities for local students to supplement their education and broaden the scope of their work wherever possible.
Volunteer programme
In January 2005, ReefDoctor began inviting small groups of volunteers into its scientific team to help expand data collection and facilitate further development of ReefDoctor’s core programmes. Since then, ReefDoctor’s Research Assistant Volunteer programme has developed to accommodate up to six research assistants at any one time, helping with all aspects of our work.

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