CSI on Coral Reefs CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSSCRIME SCENE DO NOT Dave Gulko Lead, ICRI Committee on Coral Reef Enforcement & Investigation The ICRI Committee on Coral Reef Enforcement and Investigation

For A Short-Term Human Impact Event On Coral Reefs - How Do We Determine Causality & Responsibility? Landing Scrape from Kayak Foot Damage from Entry/Exit

1). For a wide variety of coral reef impact incidents, the people most likely to respond have no formal training or tools for conducting legally- defensible investigations 2). There are no recognized standards for conducting such investigations 1). For a wide variety of coral reef impact incidents, the people most likely to respond have no formal training or tools for conducting legally- defensible investigations The Problem:

Background IMPAC October 2005; Geelong, Australia ICRI Late October 2005; Belau – A Committee is formed… USCRTF Early November 2005; Belau Florida Forensics Workshop January 2006 – Brainstorming and a meeting of minds…

Committee Make-up ICRI Secretariat US (USAID, NOAA, USFWS) Japan Australia (GBRMPA) England Indonesia Samoa Mexico IUCN/CORDIO SPC Solomon Islands Belau CBD Philippines Plus an oddball or two like myself….

Working Sub-Group Coral Reef Resource Managers Ex-homicide Detective & CSI Advisor Wildlife Forensic Laboratory ERA Specialists Coral Reef Restoration Specialist Coral Reef Enforcement Specialist Coral Reef Ecotoxicologist

Use of Investigations to Maximize Negotiation Restoration Mitigation Identification Mediation of Responsible Litigation Parties (RPs) Prosecution

Who Are We Talking About Marine Enforcement Officers Environmental Assessment Specialists Litigators Natural Resource Managers & Biologists Coral Reef Researchers

What Are We Talking About Basic Investigation Training & Strategies Handling of Data as Evidence Providing Ecological & Resource Impact Analysis to Support Prosecution Getting the Word Out Judicial Education

How Do You Investigate Impacts on Coral Reefs? Scientific Experimentation Monitoring

Homicide: The ‘CSI’ Approach Science driven by legal needs Strong burden on documentation Strong burden on “Chain-of-Custody”

Homicide: The ‘CSI’ Approach Existing International Acceptance But how do you translate terrestrial techniques to an underwater world?

63 Applicants, 21 Countries & Islands Marine Enforcement, Lawyers, Res. Mgrs, Scientists, MPA Mgrs, NGOs, Forensic Scientists Post-ITMEMS Pilot Field Training Workshop: Coral Reef CSI

Draft Toolkit Cookbook Approach High & Low Tech Translatable

CSI Field Kit Most Items Can Be Made High & Low Tech Porttable, Self- Contained

The Regional Workshop Approach: Experienced CR CSI Instructors Asst CR CSI Instructors from Region Regional Participants: Multi- country, Multi-agency, Multi- discipline

Committee Goals To design a set of draft protocols and techniques for investigating short-term events on coral reefs. To conduct a pilot field training workshop at the upcoming ITMEMS, October To use results to produce an international toolkit and field CSI kits. To conduct regional field training workshops in 2007 &   

How Can One Get Involved? Potential Regional Training Workshops ( ): What are each region’s needs & concerns? Red Sea East Africa South Asia Southeast Asia Indonesia/Philippines Australia South Pacific Islands Central Pacific Islands Central/South America South Caribbean Islands Eastern Caribbean Islands Florida (ICRS 2008)

Basic Assumptions of CR Investigations Going to Court Limitations: Time, Scale, Resources Ecological Complexity Remoteness of Operation Two Types of Investigations: –Cause Known, Impact Unknown (ex. Vessel Grounding) –Cause Unknown, Impact Known (ex. Fish Kill)

So what is CSI on Coral Reefs specifically…

The Pre-Assessment Fuel Alien Spp. Chemicals Physical Damage Recovery Damage Anchor Damage Rare Spp. Protected Spp. Fragile or Protected Habitats

The Pre-assessment: Setting A Impact Scene Perimeter, An Event Perimeter, & Defining Habitat/Subhabitats Reef Holes Massive Corals Reef Flat Reef Crest Reef Slope Deep Reef

The Impact Assessment

The Biological Assessment Modified REAs Impact & Control