Pilot project: Polynesian catamarans in use for research

Research expeditions are part of everyday life for the scientists at the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT). Not only the current pandemic, but also ecological and economic considerations gave the Okeanos team and Dr. Annette Breckwoldt, marine scientist at the ZMT, an idea.

In a pilot project, the local crew of the Okeanos Vaka in Vanuatu and a local cameraman were contracted to conduct interviews. Equipped with extensive questionnaires by the scientists, the Okeanos crew conducted interviews with local people on the two remote islands of Malekula and Maskelyn in the Vanuatu archipelago. All interviews were conducted in local language, captured on film and subsequently transcribed. The surveys are an important part of the SOCPacific research project on fishing practices in the South Pacific. The local population has already announced that they would like to remain in contact with the scientists on this topic in order to establish a mutual transfer of knowledge.

Further Information: https://idw-online.de/de/news790229