2001 marked the start new scientific effort and a new collaborative agreement between SEI and the Marine Reserve of St. Barthelemy. The effort is aimed at strengthening science and conservation. In July-August and December 2001 Dr. Brosnan and assistants worked on the island. A summary of activities is provided below. SEI is currently analyzing scientific data for a full report which will be provided here.

1. As part of the scientific monitoring, we repeated fish transects, photquadrat studies around St. Barthelemy, and carried out preliminary analysis.

2. Fish densities doubled, on average, since the creation of the reserve in 1996. Groupers and parrotfish show among the highest increase.

3. There are few major and significant changes in coral cover, but some heavily used sites show coral loss and damage.

4. A sediment-binding red alga, which can smother small corals etc., covered up to 2/3 of substrate in summer 2001. Not previously recorded in St. Barths, its’ abundance had declined by year’s end. However, changes in cover should be monitored.

5. The number of conch, urchins, and juvenile lobsters increased in Grand Cul de Sac. We have been working with the Reserve providing information that will help them to develop conservation policies for the site.

6. In 2001, we entered an understanding with the Reserve to work together to promote, and increase resources for: 1. Scientific research, 2. Outreach to the public, and 3. Capital and equipment (including much-needed lab space).

7. In 2002 we hope to increase the number of photo-quadrats and fish and invertebrate transects both in the reserve and in control areas so that we have better power and confidence in the data, and can help guide protection of the reserve.

8. We hope to strengthen the science-based conservation efforts through additional research projects.

9. Monitoring results were presented by Deborah Brosnan at the opening address of the Coral Reef Monitoring special symposium at The International Coral Reef Symposium 2000, and they have been incorporated into a scientific paper (Tissot and Brosnan in prep.)