"Madagascar Arks: Rebuilding Reefs Through Local Stewardship"

Southwest Madagascar is home to fragile marine ecosystems and communities that depend on reef fish as their primary source of protein. However, climate change, population growth, and overfishing are threatening both reef integrity and human nutrition.

• Environment: Arid conditions and limited agriculture make marine protein essential. Reefs are degrading due to ecological pressure and unsustainable fishing practices.
• Application: Arks and ARMs can accelerate the ecological productivity of artificial reefs, turning stone structures into biologically rich, fish-producing ecosystems.
• Project goal: Demonstrate that biologically seeded artificial reefs can improve ecological health, increase fish abundance, and enhance local nutrition outcomes.

The project team deployed 6–8 large artificial reef sites in partnership with Harvard, Reef Doctor, and IHSM. These structures will integrate modified Arks features, ARMS modules, and fishery-aware design elements like deterrents to harmful fishing practices.

• Locally sourced boulder-based artificial reefs
• Biological seeding via ARMS to enrich reef colonization
• Designs that engage artisanal fishers in sustainable management
• Partnership with Madagascar’s leading marine institute (IHSM), Harvard Research, and Reef Doctor NGO

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This project blends ecological restoration with fisheries and human health research.

• ARMS colonization rates (microbial + invertebrate diversity)
• Fish population dynamics and growth rates near artificial reefs
• Water chemistry and sediment impact tracking
• Fisher yield and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE)
• Nutritional surveys within local communities
• Community engagement and fishing practice metrics

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