11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

23-17
The U.s. Coral Reef Task Force: A Model For Fostering Coral Reef Management At
National To Local Scales
Beth DIEVENEY* 1 , Roger GRIFFIS 2
1 National Ocean Service, NOAA, Silver Spring, MD, 2 National Marine Fisheries Service,
NOAA, Silver Spring, MD
The purpose of this study was to assess the strengths and challenges of U.S. Coral Reef
Task Force (USCRTF) efforts to mobilize U.S. coral reef conservation at local to
international levels. The unique success of the USCRTF has been its ability to bring
together government entities with diverse mandates to identify national goals and foster
work at the local level that addresses both local and national priorities for coral reef
conservation. The USCRTF includes 12 U.S. Government agencies, seven states and
territories, and three Freely Associated States. This broad membership makes the
USCRTF uniquely situated to promote coral reef conservation in a holistic, ecosystembased
approach. The USCRTF developed the first U.S. National Action Plan to Conserve
Coral Reefs and the National Coral Reef Action Strategy which both serve to define and
direct its overarching goals, objectives, and activities. These national goals were further
refined into place-based Local Action Strategies (LAS) to address six priority threats:
over-fishing, land-based sources of pollution, recreational overuse and misuse, lack of
public awareness, climate change, and coral bleaching/disease. The LAS provide a
framework for USCRTF member agencies to identify and address these threats and
additional local needs, connect local priorities to national goals, coordinate Federal
agency actions with local management of reef resources, and increase collaboration and
resources to implement conservation actions. In addition, LAS provide a means to
specifically focus on the needs of one region or jurisdiction while also providing a
mechanism to apply adaptive management among and between the various regions. The
USCRTF has also utilized its diverse membership to promote a broad suite of other
management, research, and technical tools to more effectively and collaboratively
manage coral reef ecosystems.
23-18
Mesoamerican Marine Protected Area Effects on Resource User Livelihoods
Mark ZEGLER* 1
1 Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science, University of California Santa
Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
This paper analyzes the changes in the livelihoods of local coastal resource users that
occurred due to the designation of marine protected areas in Belize and Mexico within
the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Systems (MBRS). These marine protected areas are
situated in coastal waters of the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve and the Parque Nacional
Arrecifes de Xcalak in Belize and Mexico respectively and were both established to
promote biodiversity conservation and economic development. Fieldwork in 2004-2005
documented the changes that occurred to local livelihoods in the conservation, fishery,
and tourism sectors. The modifications to coastal governance regimes changed local
livelihoods in each case study area. Implementation of marine protected areas reduced
fishery pressure on many commercial fish species, and increased pressure on some
species targeted by tourist sport fishing boats. In both cases, some locals benefited as
conservation and tourist use expanded, while others lost jobs in the fishery sector. The
results of this research indicate that marine protected areas affect livelihoods and shift use
from commercial fishing to conservation and tourist use of the reef. Geographic
information system analyses of informant map biographies indicate that the spatial
patterns of livelihood activities changed within the boundaries of each respective marine
protected area. Evidence suggests protected area networks can be effective in promoting
societal goals for conservation and development if geographic, institutional, and social
factors are included in the design process.
Oral Mini-Symposium 23: Reef Management
23-19
Coral Cover, Reef Fish Abundance And Revenues Of Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary,
Central Philippines From 1998 -2007
Pamela Alma AMOLO* 1 , Rizaller AMOLO 1
1 Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation Inc., Cebu City, Philippines
Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary (GMS) is a 15ha marine protected area (MPA) in Central,
Philippines. It was established as a means to rehabilitate degraded reef and address dwindling
fish catch. Its management has proven to be an effective strategy that has made it an important
tourism destination and has generated economic revenues. This study examines the trends of the
benthic community and reef fish population from the 10-year biophysical monitoring conducted
in GMS from 1998 – 2007. It also compared the tourist arrival and revenue generated by the
MPA . Benthic data showed a significant change in live hard coral cover and coral mortality
index, both inside and outside the marine sanctuary, after 10 years of protection. A significant
difference in fish abundance was observed inside and outside portions of the MPA. Tourist
arrival and revenue rapidly increased over the first 3-years of protection and has gradually
level-off in recent years. This paper also presents lesson learned in managing MPAs involving
community and tourism activities. Some of which includes: management and monitoring of
tourism and other potential impacts is a crucial element for MPA sustainability. Also, revenues
from MPA should benefit the community primarily involved in its management.
23-20
Seaweed Farming: An Alternative Livelihood, A Last Resort, Or Subsidising Overfishing
Of Coral Reefs?
Nicholas HILL* 1,2 , EJ MILNER-GULLAND 3 , Marcus ROWCLIFFE 1 , Guy COWLISHAW 1 ,
Amado BLANCO 4 , Heather KOLDEWEY 5
1 Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom, 2 Division of
Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, 3 Division of Biology, Imperial
College London, Ascot, United Kingdom, 4 Project Seahorse Foundation for Marine
Conservation, Cebu City, Philippines, 5 Zoological Society of London, London, United
Kingdom
A lack of options is frequently seen as the cause of overfishing and destructive fishing on coral
reefs. Alternative livelihoods have therefore been embraced to address this problem. Seaweed
farming is one such alternative. Some authors have recognised that seaweed farming may just
become one component of a diversified livelihood in poor communities, limiting its ability to
reduce fishing pressure. However, cases do exist where seaweed farming achieves this goal.
But few studies have examined the conditions under which it does so, and, more importantly,
the conditions under which it can result in the opposite effect. We compare the situation in
island communities on Danajon Bank in the central Philippines where seaweed farming is being
actively promoted and has lead to different outcomes. Using interviews and group research, we
examine the conditions under which seaweed farming reduces fishing pressure at a household
and community level. In one community, unique environmental conditions and communitylevel
attributes appear to have reduced fishing pressure following the uptake of seaweed
farming at both the community and household level, resulting in a perceived increase in fish
abundance. Elsewhere, we find that for some households it only acts as an activity of last resort
when fishing is no longer viable. Of greatest concern, seaweed farming appears to be
subsidising some households’ intensive fishing activity in heavily degraded areas where they
are operating at a loss and would otherwise not be able to continue fishing. Understanding the
conditions that lead to these different outcomes will help us to develop more effective
management interventions when confronted with issues of poverty. We address the conditions
that have led to these different outcomes.
200