Community Involvement ReefTeach
The Challenge
The Funding
Volunteer Monitoring & Community Based Management Educators, Researchers and Managers Collaborate to Engage Coastal Users A Success Story in Hawaii
Educate and Involve Issue Information Cutting Edge Research Promise of Future Call to Action Volunteer monitoring
Triple Component Approach Collaborative Effort: DAR, UH, UHSGES, DOE and W.Hi.Community 1. Education & Outreach > cross-generations > cross-peers > cross-cultures 2. Volunteer Monitoring 3. Community Based Management Council
Narrow Reef Ecosystem Easily Wiped Out
ReefTalks 11 Free presentations per year for 8 years Highlight issues of concern Introduce residents to Hawaii’s resource people
Aloha Kai West Hawaii Explorations Academy High School Cross-peer Cross-cultural experience
ReefTeach WHEA & Volunteers Reef Teach at High Impact Snorkel Beach Teens and Adults Involved
WHY IS MONITORING IMPORTANT?
ReefTeach Can Make a Difference
Constant Education Needed at Kahalu’u
Show People How to Avoid Live Coral
Kids for Corals Murals at Kahalu’u Donated time and funds: artist worked with 5 th grade, contractor framed and hung, private donations for plexi, frame material and painting
4 MOST FREQENT SUBSTRATE INTERACTIONS
HELP FOR KAHALU’U’S SIGNS ! Uncle Dick & Roy Roy’s Holding This End
Girl Scouts Thank you for your help ! The corals thank you for your help!
ReefWatchers Volunteer Monitoring Training Fish Identification
ReefWatcher Goals Build community understanding marine resource management concepts Record change over time Provide data useful for DAR Involve community Monitor introduced and/or invasive sp
ReefWatcher Program Identify data needs Community members are trained to develop and carry out survey protocols to meet those needs Provide ongoing education opportunities
ReefWatchers Begin Meet DAR and UH Requirements –By Laws –Liability Release –Medical –PADI Diving & Snorkeling Procedures –SCUBA C Card & Insurance –Accident Reporting
Protocols Developed & In Use Tidepool Survey Kahaluu Fish Feeding/No Feeding Survey Human Impact With Substrate >SCUBA & Snorkelers Individual Surveys >Point-to-Point, “Beltless Transects”
WHAT HAS REEFWATCHERS DONE? AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS LET’S REVIEW…
HUMAN IMPACT SURVEY RESULTS Human Impact on Substrate - SCUBA –Impacts per diver = 3.1 (233 divers observed) –Impact categories and location use analyzed –Ecological briefings rated
Human Impact Survey Uses Dive Charter Operators –Receive their own data as a subset of totals –Operators and Resource Managers Use data to determine use of mooring buoys Use data to identify ways to reduce impact Use data to estimate future impact as numbers of divers increase
Bob & Eve at Honaunau Transects
REEFWATCHERS’ Data Contributions Honaunau: Bob Flatt, Eve Bullinger Hookena: David Shen Keauhou: Ann Guth, David Hoopaugh Kahalu’u: Marjorie & Duayne Erway & Leonard Torricer, WHEA Old Airport: Jim & MaryLinda Passon, WHEA Keahole: Jim & Norma Lathrop, Donna Lavorin Makaiwa(Mauna Lani): Susan Hunt Puako: Bob Teytaud
Bob T’s Tidepool Site at Puako
Bob Flatt’s Beltless Transect at Honaunau
NEED MORE MONITORING COVERAGE Coral Cover Fish Inverts Tidepools Sand /Mudflat Communities Human Use Water Quality
Benefits to the Resource and Management Community participation Education for all ages Support for DAR initiatives Data collection over time (years) Ocean USERS involved Legislative action
RESULTS Regional Fishery Management Area 9 FRAs established Over 6000 people/ year Community members are involved Difficult issues Working together
You buy the ‘kit’ for $15 includes a fish ID card, and data input directions. Goes to national database. Three levels of competency Kona dive shops interested Maui is using this survey method Random Swim Surveys as You Dive
The Largest International Coral Reef Monitoring Program Involving Sport Divers and Scientists Can be done one or more times per year We should contribute to this database
YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE JOIN REEFWATCHERS DO WHATEVER YOU FEEL IS MOST IMPORTANT