11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

23.1004
Coral Reef Conservation Campaign -Brazil
Ana Paula PRATES* 1 , Paula PEREIRA 1 , Angela Ester Magalhães DUARTE 1 , Maria
Helena REINHARDT 2 , Maria Carolina HAZIN 1 , Beatrice PADOVANI FERREIRA 3 ,
João Marcello CAMARGO 4 , Livia de Laia LOIOLA 5 , Clovis Barreira e CASTRO 6 ,
Debora de Oliveira PIRES 6
1 Biodiversity and Forest, Ministry of the Environment (MMA), Brasilia, Brazil,
2 Conservation Units, Chico Mendes Institute, Brasilia, Brazil, 3 Oceanography, Federal
University of Pernambuco/ Coastal Reefs Institute, Tamandare, Brazil, 4 Coastal Reefs
Institute, Tamandare, Brazil, 5 CECIERJ Foundation, Angra dos Reis, Brazil, 6 Federal
University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Brazilian Ministry of the Environment (MMA) launched the Coral Reef
Conservation Campaign in 2001, advocating that public awareness is key towards
environmental conservation. This campaign has as it´s main objective promote principles
of environmental friendly behavior based on the international “Leave no Trace”
Campaign. Visitation to natural areas has been considered to be a significant alternative
for sustainability. If uncontrolled, however, it might result on a serious threat to
conservation of biodiversity. Being this the case, public awareness which considers the
roles and function of wild areas might reverse potential negative impacts. In the first
phase of the Campaign, managers of nine protected areas established in coral reef sites
were called to be partners.
In 2005, MMA received financial support from the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation to produce outreach material and to elaborate training courses to 178
environment, tourism and education local agents, volunteers, and scuba diving operators
in the five most visited Brazilian beaches with coral reef (Maracajau, João Pessoa, Porto
de Galinhas, Tamandaré and Porto Seguro). Outreach actions were developed jointly with
partners, such as non-governmental organizations (Coastal Reefs Institute and Mater
Natura), Coral Vivo Project, Chico Mendes Institute and Brazilian Institute for the
Environment and Renewable Natural Resources.
Different outreach materials were prepared: posters, folders, textbooks, stickers, t-shirts,
caps and dvd-videos. They were delivered to travel agencies, town halls, visitor centers
and scuba divers. We also established partnerships with air companies and a public TV
channel to broadcast the video, also supporting its use at events, such as “Clean-up Day”
in three beaches Natal, Tamandaré and Maceio. This specific event counted on more than
200 volunteers. In these paper we describe the methodology, dissemination and
partnership strategy, and also we discus about the results and effectiveness evaluation of
Campaign.
23.1006
New Initiatives In Conservation And Management Of Coral Reefs In Andaman &
Nicobar Islands (India)
Alok SAXENA* 1 , Sujit SHYAM CHOUDHURY 2
1 Department of Environment & Forests, Government of India, Port Blair, India,
2 Environment & Forests, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, Port Blair, India
Conservation and management of coral reefs in Andaman & Nicobar Islands which are
located in the Bay of Bengal off the eastern coast of India is one of the major objectives
of the mandate of the Department of Environment & Forests. The routine conservation
measures and management practices involve enforcing various regulations in vogue,
regular patrolling in the sensitive areas and regulation of activities like fishing, tourism,
diving etc in the Marine Protected Areas. In recent times, the Department has initiated a
number of measures for better protection and more effective management of reef areas.
More emphasis is now on awareness generation programmes targeting youth and the
people living around reef areas so as seek people’s participation in management of reef
areas. Organizing nature camps, formation of nature clubs, regular film shows,
distribution of publicity materials etc are some such measures. The increasing tourism in
the reef areas has opened a variety of livelihood options to local people. The Department
is assisting the locals through eco-development processes. In a number of villages, people
have approached the Forest Department for involving them in ecotourism. Process of
formation of eco-development has started in some areas through dialogue between the
Department and local people. The Department is also promoting research in coral reefs of
these islands. A number of scientific Institutes, Universities and non-governmental
organizations are carrying out research activities in reef areas. The Department provides
them all possible assistance to them for the purpose. The present paper deals with various
initiatives taken by the Department and response of people to these measures. The results
show emergence of a new relationship of mutual trust between the Department and the
local people.
Poster Mini-Symposium 23: Reef Management
23.1007
Threats To Coral Habitat in St. Martin Island, Bangladesh.
Mohammad Zahirul ISLAM* 1 , Mohammad Sazedul ISLAM 2
1 Marine Conservation, Marinelife Alliance, comilla, Bangladesh, 2 Marine Conservation,
WCRC, comilla, Bangladesh
St. Martin Island is only coral habitat in Bangladesh. The island supports coral community
associated with diverse animal/plant group providing unique marine environment. Coral
colonies are not extensive and reefs are not formed. So far 66 species has been described in a
short survey with 15 families of sclerectinia. Despite the exploration of diversity the island
ecosystem is under severe threats due to current developmental trends for tourism. Recent
development changing the Island ecosystem severely impact biodiversity. Marine life is being
eroded far before diversity exploration. About 150 species marine algae and 89 coral fishes
identified. Since 2 decades coral extraction increased and intensified during 1990s onward
through the tourism and curio business in Cox’s Bazar curio Market. Recent mass tourism
initiative increased one drastic activity, small Island Cheradia visit that is rich in coral colonies.
During tourist season (Oct – May) thousands of boats travel Cheradia and anchor on live coral.
No mooring buoys has been installed nor any initiative taken although it is major destruction
activities on coral. Tourists are unaware about marine ecosystem and major contributor of
plastic garbage during the last 5 years. All existing threats are originated mainly from tourism
like: Coral damage by anchoring, oil spillage from tourist & fishing boats, coral extraction for
curio, Intertidal/subtidal walking over coral colonies, Plastic waste & broken fishing nets
dumping over living coral colonies, indiscriminate underwater recreational activities (scuba,
snorkeling), Sewage disposal from hotel/resorts to seawater. To overcome the situation and to
enhance the status, installation of mooring buoys, awareness raising, reduction of oil spillage,
impose code of conduct for every activity (fishing/tourism), establish coral sanctuary & MPA in
some part of high biodiversity with demarcation buoys and maintain protection is very urgent.
Current tourism threats retarding coral growth, resulting more impact than previous coral
extraction.
23.1008
Marine Debris Location, Identification, and Removal from St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State
Park, Florida, U.S.A.
Jamie MONTY* 1 , Laura HERREN 1 , Merle STOKES 2
1 Southeast Florida Aquatic Preserves Field Office, Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, Office Of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas, Ft. Pierce, FL, 2 Reef Research Dive
Team, Florida Oceanographic Society, Stuart, FL
The Florida Reef Tract extends from the Dry Tortugas in the Florida Keys to St. Lucie Inlet in
Martin County, the northernmost portion of which is encompassed by St. Lucie Inlet Preserve
State Park (SLIPSP). The 3,900 acres of SLIPSP submerged lands includes coral and worm
reefs, and are considered the northern extent of tropical coral species in Florida. SLIPSP reefs
attract a wide variety of user groups, including boaters, commercial and recreational fishermen,
snorkelers, and SCUBA divers. Anecdotal evidence of increased marine debris impacting
SLIPSP resources was the impetus for this project. Project objectives include: 1) determine the
amount of marine debris within SLIPSP; 2) identify debris “hotspots”; 3) link debris to user
groups for education and outreach targets; 4) determine marine debris impact on SLIPSP
resources; 5) remove marine debris; and 6) establish a hotline for anonymously reporting debris
lost within SLIPSP. Eleven marine debris survey/clean-up events were conducted between
April 2006 and January 2007; 344 pieces of marine debris were located within SLIPSP and
60% of debris was removed. Fifty-nine percent of debris was associated with fishing and
boating activities, and twenty-nine percent of debris impacted natural resources. A SLIPSP
marine debris reporting hotline and response team were formed, and educational flyers
advertising the hotline were distributed to local boating, diving, and fishing entities. Prior to this
project, the lack of data regarding impacts to SLIPSP natural resources limited the ability of
managers to make educated decisions. The unique partnership for this project among the state
government, a non-profit volunteer dive team, and a commercial fishing organization, improved
the protection of natural resources within SLIPSP, and can serve as an example of communitybased
restoration aiding marine protected area management.
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