Scientific Visit of Dr Manuela Capello- researcher at IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement)

Dr Manuela Capello is a permanent researcher at IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement), working in the MARBEC research unit (Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation) in Sète (France).

Her main research interests focus on pelagic ecosystems and large pelagic fish. In particular, Dr Capello studies the interactions between tropical tuna and their environment, including FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices). She currently works on the derivation of novel abundance indicators for tropical tuna based on fisheries-independent data (electronic tagging, echo sounder, ...) recorded at FADs.

Dr Capello will be spending two months at MOI, studying the physical properties of the environment around FADs in collaboration with MOI scientists. Moreover she will also look into new fields of collaboration between IRD, MOI and other research institutions’ working in Marine ecology and oceanography in Mauritius and in the SWIO region.