The MaHeWa project kicked off in Lifou, Loyalty Islands Province! At the end of November 2024, a team of two IFREMER scientists embarked on a mission with two main objectives: 1) to inform managers and stakeholders from local communities about the general goals of the MaHeWa project, and 2) to deploy thermographs at two sites of interest.
A project presentation meeting was held at the Loyalty Islands Province assembly hall, bringing together representatives from various sectors, including the environment, fisheries, culture, and community development. Romain Le Gendre (IFREMER) outlined the project’s different work packages and how they interconnect. Carla Chevillard then presented initial findings on the history of marine heatwaves around Lifou and the Loyalty Islands, based on a long archive of satellite sea surface temperature data.
Lifou, a priority site for the project, will benefit from activities such as vulnerability mapping, temperature monitoring, and research on ciguatera and coral resilience.
Two thermographs were installed at Jinek (Easo tribe) and Honem (Hnasse tribe). This work was carried out with the support of the Lagoon Safaris dive club team, as well as the staff and nautical resources of the Province’s Environment Department. These moorings, designed to withstand cyclonic conditions, will record marine temperatures for approximately one year before being retrieved and replaced with new ones. The data will be accessible to all via the ReefTEMPS portal, providing valuable insights for researchers and local managers. They will enable in-situ detection of marine heatwaves, comparison with satellite data, and a better understanding of the processes at play during these extreme events.
Map of the two stations in Lifou
Coming soon: a mission focused on ciguatera is scheduled in Lifou for early 2025, furthering the objectives of the MaHeWa project. Stay tuned for more updates!
Illustrative photo: depiction of a mooring by a Lagoon Safaris diver
