Radar Project

Aride has benefited from funds through the Marine Protected Area Network Project of IOC countries (MPAN) implemented by the Indian Ocean Commission, to purchase and install a radar system. The objective of this project is to install a radar powerful enough to detect small boats that come in the neighbourhood of Aride Island. This instrument will be particularly useful to detect boats that come to Aride at night during the seabird breeding season for poaching birds' eggs. 

It is expected that the radar will be installed and commissioned in 2009.

Mooring and demarcation buoys project

In order to preserve its corals and reefs, Aride had installed 3 mooring buoys that are used by visiting boats. These mooring buoys are installed in front of the south beach, and are regularly used by boats. These buoys reduces considerably the need to drop an anchor on the seabed, with the risk of damaging the corals. With the increase in the number of boats visiting Aride nowadays, these 3 buoys have proved to be insufficient. 

Funds have recently been obtained through a competitive bid launched by the Regional Coastal Zone Management Project (ReCoMap) implemented by the Indian Ocean Commission, which wil allow the installation of 4 new mooring buoys. These funds that are provided by the European Union to the ReCoMap were specifically targeted towards the improvement of management of Marine Protected Areas.

Likewise new demarcation buoys will also be installed as part of the project. These demarcation buoys will be located on the boundary of the marine reserve, which is at 200 m around the island from the high water mark. They will help determine if a boat is inside or outside the marine reserve, and assist the Aride rangers in enforcing the regulations which classifies the marine reserve as a strict no-take zone.

Rehabilitation of accomodation

Accomodation on Aride for staff and visiting scientists is pretty basic and until very recently the houses did not have running water. In order to provide more comfortable accomodation to the staff, a new project to rehabilitate all the accomodation on the island has been initiated.

The first phase which was to provide running water to the houses was completed in early June 2009. The staff can now enjoy a good shower.

The second phase will start soon with the rehabilitation of the houses themselves. In a big operation, construction materials was brought to the island in May, and work should start soon.