Hey everybody! My name is Jean-Gabriel Reynaud, and during the next 3 months I will be the marine biologist intern at the Marine Discovery Centre at Landaa Giraavaru. Currently, I am in my first year of studies for a Master’s degree in fisheries engineering at the Agrocampus Ouest de Rennes in France.
But why the choice? I am passionate about fishing, aquaculture (aquatic organisms breeding in fresh water or salt water), and about the aquatic environment generally. As a future marine biologist, I want to get involved in this sector and help to solve some of the problems humans have caused, such as overfishing and pollution of the ocean.
Since my first stay in the Maldives in February 2011, I have wanted to apply my knowledge about the conservation of this beautiful and fragile ecosystem to protect it. Thanks to Reefscapers and Four Seasons, I will be able to be a part of it.

During the coming weeks, I will participate in the Fish Breeding Programme in the fish laboratory. This programme represents the sector in which I wish to focus with my studies. My goals will be to increase the number of eggs laid, the quality of larvae and the larvae survival rate of the two clownfish species: Amphiprion nigripes (the local Maldivian Clownfish) and Amphiprion Clarkii (the Clark’s Clownfish). Five factors will be manipulated and compared:
- Feeding of breeding pairs: Compare feeding five times per day with pellets/shrimp, mussels, fish eggs and Selco® to feeding five times per day with pellets/shrimp and Selco®.
- The environment of breeding pair: Compare tank with transparent glass to a tank with opaque glass.
- Harvesting of larvae: Collecting newly hatched larvae with a beaker compared to collection with a hose.
- Larvae feeding: Comparing only rotifers to green water (rotifers Brachionus plictilis enriched with S.presso® + algae Nanocloropsis sp).
- Impact of light on larvae growth: Comparing the survival rate, the larvae growth and the date of metamorphosis between two tanks: one in the dark the first day, then with 50% of light off the second day and one with 50% of light off the first day, then 100% of light on the second day.


During this first month, I am also learning about the care of injured sea turtles, the coral reef restoration activities, turtle and fish feeding activities, and the different excursions conducted with guests: Guided Adventure Snorkel, Turtle Safari and Dolphin Cruises. I have already learnt a lot about turtle biology and trained myself in the turtle and dolphin identification programs. I could identify two young turtles encountered on my second Turtle Safari and was very excited to contribute to the database!


I still have two months of internship during which I will continue to give you news about the advances of my experiments on clownfish larvae and about the turtle and dolphin identification programs! [ Read my next report ]
À bientôt,
Jean-Gabriel 😉

Do you want to experience life as a marine biologist
here in the Maldives ?
Head over to our Employment page to read about the different ways you can work with us - full time, apprentice or intern.
And see more from our Interns in their very own words & photos as part of our Diary / Blog series.