FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Heather Back, San Diego Foundation
heather@sdfoundation.org 619-235-2300
Steve Walker, National Marine Mammal Foundation
steve.walker@nmmf.org 619-251-0518

Baby Sea Lion Stranding Crisis Worsens,
Local Groups Join Forces to Respond

Matching Grant from Waitt Foundation
Issued to Provide Emergency Care and Support

SAN DIEGO — The National Marine Mammal Foundation today announced that the Waitt Foundation, in partnership with the San Diego Foundation, has issued a challenge grant to fund an emergency response to the increasing number of sick and starving sea lion pups stranding in record numbers along the southern California coast. Every dollar contributed by the public will be matched one-to one by the Waitt Foundation up to $25,000 with the goal of raising $50,000 to be dedicated to the direct and urgent care of stranded sea lion pups.

Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) took the extraordinary step of declaring an Unusual Mortality Event for California sea lions. Since the first of the year, more than 1,000 California sea lion pups have beached themselves from San Diego up the coast to Santa Barbara. More sea lion pups have stranded in the past three months than are typically seen in an entire year and the numbers continue to rise by the day. The pups are too weak and thin to forage for food– without human care, they won’t survive. The increase in sea lions washing up on local beaches intensified over the Easter weekend and scientists have expressed serious concern as the traditional peak stranding season is just beginning.

“We’re working quickly with our partners to help respond to this crisis. The National Marine Mammal Foundation’s primary focus is to help save the lives of these malnourished sea lions and this matching grant and the public’s involvement will make a real difference,” said NMMF Executive Director Dr. Cynthia Smith. NMMF staff are joining forces with the Marine Mammal Care Center and other stranding network providers to respond to the crisis. They will continue providing medical exams, treatment, and nutritional support to help rehabilitate the young pups.

“”The fate of these pups is our immediate priority, and we hope the public will join us in providing for their rescue and rehabilitation, ” said Jacob James, Managing Director of the Waitt Foundation. “While the exact cause of the strandings continues to be researched, the alarming number of sick sea lions should be a wake up call to policy makers and the public at large — this is yet another symptom of the little discussed ocean health crisis.”

Initial research into the strandings points to a decrease in fisheries that provide food for the sea lions. “These strandings are accompanied by observations of underweight pups on the breeding rookeries, signs that typically occur in association with food shortage,” said U.S. National Marine Mammal Commissioner and NMMF Scientific Advisory Board Member Dr. Frances Gulland.

Donations to the San Diego Foundation can be made here and will go directly to fund sea lion care and medical support. (Be sure to click the National Marine Mammal Foundation Emergency Fund bubble on the donation form.) Donations can also be made to the National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF) directly by clicking here.

To report a stranded seal or sea lion, please contact your local stranding network or local authorities.

# # #

The National Marine Mammal Foundation, a non-profit organization, has a mission to improve and protect life for all marine mammals, humans and our shared oceans through science, service and education. From sea lions on the California coast to bearded seals in the barrows of Alaska, NMMF’s experienced team of veterinarians are applying their medical expertise to pinniped care in the U.S. and abroad.

The Waitt Foundation, established by Gateway, Inc. co-founder Ted Waitt, supports a variety of national and international programs concentrating ocean health. By increasing global awareness, working towards sustainable fishing systems, and creating critical habitat protection, the Foundation’s goal is to reverse the current decline of ocean life while inspiring humanity to make informed choices that contribute to a healthy marine ecosystem.

Founded in 1975, The San Diego Foundation is a broad-purpose community foundation helping individuals, families and organizations carry out their charitable plans, with the common goal of improving the quality of life in the greater San Diego region, now and for generations to come. For additional information, please visit the San Diego Foundation at http://www.sdfoundation.org.

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Low Bay on the northwestern shore of Barbuda. Photo: Ayana Johnson/Waitt Foundation

Blue Halo Barbuda
a project of the Waitt Foundation

The Barbuda Blue Halo initiative is a comprehensive ocean zoning project launched in collaboration with local government and the Waitt Foundation with a goal of sustainable management.

The Blue Halo Concept:

Comprehensive ocean zoning and sustainable management of fisheries that:
1. Is based on the best available scientific, social, and economic data,
2. Heavily engages the community in the planning process,
3. Minimizes impact on fishing livelihoods, and
4. Includes sanctuary zones (no fishing) to conserve fish populations and habitats.

Project Goal:

Manage ocean resources sustainably, resulting in more and bigger lobster, conch and fish, healthier ecosystems, improved fishing catches, and strengthened ocean-based livelihoods.

Approach:

Develop zoning, implementation, monitoring, financing, and enforcement plans for the waters within 1 league (3.45 miles) of shore that are under jurisdiction of the Barbuda Council.

Potential zone types could include: various types of fishing, fish sanctuaries, SCUBA diving, shipping lanes, aquaculture, boat moorings, and offshore energy production.

Focal species: lobster, conch and fish that are targeted for commercial and cultural use.

Focal habitats: those that support focal species: coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses.

Potential Outcomes:

Accommodate a variety of activities, while supporting ecological integrity and productivity;

Demonstrate a commitment to sustainable resource use, thereby building an international reputation as a leader in ocean management and as a premier eco-tourism destination;

Address problems of illegal fishing by foreign nations;

Ensure sustainable fishing for future generations of Barbudans.

Key Components:

Political support: Endorse Blue Halo Initiative and lead zoning efforts that engage stakeholders.

Community involvement: Participate in scientific assessments, planning, and management.

Management goals: Set goals for outcome of implementing Blue Halo zoning.

Funding: Secure funds for science, legal analysis, mapping, enforcement, and monitoring.

Science: Assess and monitor key marine resource and socioeconomic variables.

Legal analysis: Evaluate legal framework to ensure plans are legal and is enforceable.

Mapping: Organize geospatial information and analyze prospective management plans.

 Monitoring: Monitor the outcomes of implementing Blue Halo plans.

Enforcement: Enforce zones and fishing regulations.

Collaborating Partners:

- Barbuda Council
- Codrington Lagoon National Park
- Barbuda Fisheries Department
- Local community (including fishermen, exporters, tourism operators, and the public)
- Scientific and legal researchers
- Waitt Foundation

Schedule:

Planning phase Jan - Dec 2013. Implementation to begin Jan 2014.

 Location:

Barbuda is an island in the Eastern Caribbean, and forms part of the state of Antigua and Barbuda. It is located north of Antigua, in the middle of the Leeward Islands. To the south are the islands of Montserrat and Guadeloupe, and to the west and north west are Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barts, and St. Martin.

A local fisherman, Vernon, pointing out one of the last living staghorn corals in Palastar Reef Marine Park. Photo: Ayana Johnson/Waitt Foundation

Resources & Updates

Follow the Barbuda Blue Halo project and get updates on daily activities and progress by visiting the National Geographic Society blog of Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Director of Science and Solutions at the Waitt Foundation.

The waters of Makenke support large numbers of Commerson's dolphin, a small cetacean with brilliant black-and-white markings. Photo credit: G. Harris/Wildlife Conservation Society

**NEWS RELEASE**
CONTACT: JOHN DELANEY: (1-718-220-3275; jdelaney@wcs.org)
STEPHEN SAUTNER: (1-718-220-3682; ssautner@wcs.org)

Coastal parks created in Patagonia
with assistance from Wildlife Conservation Society
now safeguard sea lions, penguins, dolphins and other sea life

NEW YORK (March 13, 2013) - The Wildlife Conservation Society applauds the Government of Argentina for creating two enormous marine protected areas in Patagonia, a region filled with majestic shorelines and abundant wildlife.

The new marine parks-Isla Pingüino Coastal Marine Park and Makenke Coastal Marine Park-were recently established by the National Congress in Argentina and will safeguard sea lions, penguins, dolphins, and other marine and coastal species.

“We commend the Government of Argentina for their conservation stewardship in creating this new network of marine protected areas,” said Dr. Cristián Samper, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society. “Isla Pingüino and Makenke Coastal Marine Parks now protect vital wildlife populations for posterity and create new opportunities for Argentina’s ecotourism industry.”

Stretching some 80 miles south of Puerto Deseado and extending 12 miles out to sea, Isla Pingüino covers nearly 1,800 square kilometers (720 square miles) of ocean and cliff-bordered coastline. The new protected area contains large populations of South American sea lions, red-legged cormorants, and one of the largest colonies of imperial cormorants found anywhere (with more than 8,000 breeding pairs). Isla Pingüino also boasts one of the only colonies of rockhopper penguins on the coast of Patagonia.

Isla Pingüino Coastal Marine Park (seen here) now protects an area covering nearly 1,800 square kilometers (720 square miles) of coastline and sea, home to penguins, cormorants, sea lions, and other species. Photo credit: G. Harris/Wildlife Conservation Society.

Farther south, the Makenke Coastal Marine Park begins at the entrance of the Ría San Julián, covering almost 600 square kilometers (230 square miles) of shore and ocean. The park contains the largest colony of rare red-legged cormorants in the country. It also protects breeding colonies of the dolphin gull, a rare scavenger, and pods of the small but spectacular black and white Commerson’s dolphin.

Both marine protected areas are steeped in history as well as natural wonders. Charles Darwin traveled to the region now contained in Isla Pingüino in 1833, describing the wildlife he observed there during his seminal voyage aboard the HMS Beagle. Makenke Coastal Marine Park now borders the inlet of San Julian, where in 1520 Ferdinand Magellan executed and marooned a group of mutineers intent on aborting what would become the world’s first circumnavigation of the globe.

“We commend the National Congress in Argentina for passing laws to create these new marine parks, which will protect the country’s natural heritage given what will likely be an increase in development along the coast in years to come,” said Dr. Julie Kunen, Director for WCS’s Latin America and Caribbean Program.

A pair of imperial cormorants in courtship. Isla Pingüino Coastal Marine Park contains one of the largest breeding colonies of imperial cormorants found anywhere. Photo credit: G. Harris/Wildlife Conservation Society.

Dr. Caleb McClennen, Director of WCS’s Marine Program, said: “Isla Pingüino and Makenke Coastal Marine Parks continue a tradition of conservation teamwork, with organizations such as WCS providing support to the government in protecting both coastal breeding areas for mammals and birds and the marine habitats they rely upon.”

Isla Pingüino and Makenke Coastal Marine Parks were made possible as a result of work conducted by Dr. Patricia Gandini, President of the National Parks Service, and Dr. Esteban Frere of the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Both biologists began studying the wildlife of the coast of Santa Cruz with support of WCS in 1985.

Both areas were identified as priority conservation sites by the Patagonia Coastal Zone Management Plan project, carried out by both the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Fundación Patagonia Natural with support from the Global Environmental Facility and the UNDP (United Nations Development Program). Support for the research was also provided by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (Conicet).

WCS has been involved in the conservation of coastal Patagonia since the 1970s, beginning with Dr. Roger Payne’s behavioral work on southern right whales, and continues to this day with research by WCS’s Global Health Program on new threats to their survival. WCS began a long-running study on Magellanic penguins in the 1980s. That work led to conservation efforts that helped reduce the number of penguin deaths due to oil spills at sea from more than 40,000 a year to fewer than 1,000 annually, and helped move shipping lanes 30 miles offshore to avoid spills affecting seabird colonies.

A large population of South American sea lions uses Isla Pingüino's coastal beaches for breeding and the offshore waters for hunting Argentine hake, anchovies, and other marine species. Photo credit: G. Harris/Wildlife Conservation Society.

WCS has also been conducting research on southern elephant seals, South American sea lions, rockhopper penguins, cormorants, gulls, terns, and other species that breed along the shores of Patagonia. These studies informed the region’s first atlas of breeding seabirds, a work designed to guide management decisions on fisheries and other natural resource usage. Over the past 40 years WCS has helped Argentina transition from harvesting of coastal wildlife to a burgeoning tourism industry based on its spectacular coastal species. These two new parks are the latest addition to the country’s extraordinary marine conservation effort.

WCS’s efforts to help protect wildlife on the Argentine coast and sea are generously supported by the Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation, the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas, the Waitt Foundation, and others.

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. Visit www.wcs.org.

The Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas, based in New York City was established 1991 with funding from Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan, and its U.S.-based subsidiary, Mitsubishi International Corporation. Since its establishment, the Foundation has dedicated more than $7.2 million to environmental causes throughout the Americas. For more information, please visit http://www.mcfamericas.org.

Funding partnerships and projects in conjunction with its grantees and institute, the Waitt Foundation supports a variety of national and international programs concentrating on ocean conservation initiatives and marine related issues. By increasing global awareness, our goal is to reverse the current decline of ocean life while inspiring humanity to make informed choices that contribute to a healthy marine ecosystem.

Web Site: www.wcs.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheWCS
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/WCSMedia
Twitter: @TheWCS

Map of the Bahamas with expedition study area outlined in red: Acklins and Crooked Islands, Samana and Plana Cays, and Mayaguana. (Via Google Earth)

Scientists and Politicians Celebrate a Successful Expedition in the Bahamas
By Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Waitt Foundation
Mar 8, 2013 - 3:34:01 PM

In January, I was in the Bahamas to learn about efforts there to establish new marine protected areas (MPAs), meet the key players, and help strategize about how to make these efforts more successful more quickly (see previous blog post). I’m back because a critical step of that strategy has just been completed.

Last week a team of scientists brought together by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) returned from a two-week expedition to remote islands in the southeastern Bahamas (see map above). Offered the opportunity to use the Waitt research vessel, TNC pulled together a great team of scientists and organized an expedition in record time. They conducted an ecological assessment of several areas that have been proposed for protection, but were virtually unexplored scientifically.

One step in creating MPAs is to understand what’s out there under the water so you can make a solid argument for why particular areas should be protected. The government here agrees – “science must drive informed decision making,” in the words of the Minister of the Environment, Mr. Dorsett.

To facilitate this connection between science and policy, this past weekend the Waitt Foundation hosted a reception for the Bahamas’ political leaders aboard the Waitt vessel so they could meet the scientists, hear about the initial results, and discuss next steps. The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Environment, and several other Ministers and Members of Parliament were in attendance, as were the heads of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) and Department of Marine Resources (see photo below).

Scientists and politicians who met to celebrate the expedition and discuss MPAs in the Bahamas. Back row L-R: Lindy Knowles, BNT; Patricia Kramer, Scientist; Michael Braynen, Dir. Marine Resources; Philip Weech, Dir. BEST Commission; Eric Carey, Exec. Dir. BNT (partially blocked by my afro); Neil McKinney, President BNT; V. Alfred Gray, MP, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government; Philip Kramer, Exec. Dir. TNC Caribbean and lead expedition scientist; Mr. John Canton, Dir. of Works; Vallierre Deleveaux, Scientist. Front row L-R: Captain Richard; Sandy Voegeli, Scientist; Alannah Vallacot, Scientist; Ayana, Waitt Foundation; Philip Davis, MP, Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas; Eleanor Phillips, Dir. TNC Bahamas; Kenred Dorsett, MP, Minister of the Environment and Housing; Renward Wells, MP, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Works and Urban Development.

The data from the expedition are still being analyzed, but one of the most interesting preliminary results is how few large fish (groupers and snappers) there were on some of the most remote reefs of Samana and Plana Cays. To me this is indicative of how little fishing pressure it can take to deplete a fish population. It also indicates the importance of protecting nursery habitats – these remote islands did not have much in the way of seagrass, mangrove, and tidal creek habitats where juvenile fish thrive, so the fish the scientists did see likely grew up elsewhere. Perhaps this is stating the obvious, but if an area’s fish population is not self-sustaining, you can’t expect to be able to fish there sustainably, which is a good argument for protecting that area from fishing.

Near the end of the gathering, the Environment Minister said, “The Bahamas has been and will continue to be a leader in marine protection and in the Caribbean Challenge.” I sincerely hope they not only lead, but raise the bar. The Challenge aims for 20% of marine area managed by 2020. I say “managed” isn’t enough; it should be 20% of marine area set aside as fish sanctuaries, marine reserves closed to fishing, by 2020. Then sustainably fish the other 80% of the Bahamas’ waters. As the nation with the largest exclusive economic zone in the Caribbean, there would certainly be plenty of places left to fish.

But as the Deputy Prime Minister noted by way of allegory, if you dive into shallow water headfirst you can get paralyzed. He sees it as the role of science to ensure ocean management decisions are well reasoned and therefore more likely to succeed. Well, I’m certainly on board with science-based decision making. Here’s to such bold decisions, and them being made soon.

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About the Author: I travel the world on a mission to collect, create, curate, actualize, and amplify the best ideas in ocean conservation. I am Director of Science and Solutions at the Waitt Foundation. I’m @ayanaeliza on Twitter.

Cobia in Submerged Aquaculture Cage ~ With the increased consumer demand for seafood, governments and corporations have been turning to aquaculture (or fish farming) to keep up with the collective human appetite, and as a way to help stimulate local economies.

Grant Recipient:  Ocean Conservancy
Project Support:  Harnessing Momentum for a National Plan for U.S. Marine Aquaculture
Term:  2009/2010

The Ocean Conservancy believes aquaculture—the farming of marine and freshwater organisms such as fish, shellfish and even plants—can provide a safe, sustainable food supply as long as there are standard regulations to ensure safe and scientifically-sound production methods. The Waitt Foundation agrees and is supporting the conservancy’s efforts to educate policymakers about the value of creating a national framework to regulate aquaculture in federal waters.

Open Ocean Aquaculute Net ~ In the last few years, as more questions have been raised about the sustainability of some forms of coastal fish farming, there has been a surge of interest in the United States and elsewhere around the world to develop aquaculture operations in open ocean waters, including exposed state waters and those of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a region of federal waters from the state boundary (usually 3 miles) out to 200 nautical miles offshore.

Global Seafood Demand

Driven by a growing global demand for seafood, aquaculture is expanding rapidly, but its growth has come with negative environmental consequences: reliance on wild fish for feed, ecosystem impacts from escaped fish, disease transmission to wild fish, habitat impacts from nutrient release and threats to human health from the use of drugs and chemicals. There is also a growing awareness of the socioeconomic impacts of industrial fish farming on traditional fishermen and coastal communities. All of these issues must be resolved if fish farming is to supplement wild fisheries and reduce, rather than exacerbate, stress on marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Offshore Aquaculture Operation ~ The regulation of the Aquaculture industry has not yet caught up. In the United States, no regulatory regime yet exists for aquaculture in the EEZ and there is much confusion about the permitting, site selection, monitoring, and impacts of offshore aquaculture.

Currently a small contributor to global aquaculture, the U.S. industry is expected to grow five-fold by 2025. Recognizing a window of opportunity to influence lawmakers before the industry becomes entrenched, the Ocean Conservancy wants Congress to develop national laws now to ensure the protection of wild fish and ocean waters. Believing a solid national vision will serve as an example for the entire world community, the conservancy opposes regional attempts to expand the network as piecemeal.

Live in the U.S.?

Help Ocean Conservancy set national standards by asking your representatives to support responsible fish farming.

About Ocean Conservancy

Taking a multipronged approach to science, communications and policy, the Ocean Conservancy has worked for more than three decades toward the goal of a wild, healthy ocean. Believing it’s time to look beneath the ocean’s surface to discover that all living things are connected to the ocean-and that going green starts with living blue-the conservancy also believes increasing public awareness about ocean issues is key to changing the way marine resources are managed.

Resources/Media

Ocean Conservancy Web site
Ocean Conservancy Web site (Aquaculture)
Facebook
Twitter

Local fisherman in Madagascar sorting through the morning's catch ~ Photo by Tara Whitty

Grant Recipient:  Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Project Support:  Artisanal Fisheries Research Network
Term:  2010 - 2012

The Artisanal Fisheries Research Network (AFRN) is a San Diego-based group of students, researchers, and faculty who study artisanal (subsistence and small-scale) fisheries around the world. Network members represent a broad range of academic disciplines – including marine biology, economics, international relations, anthropology, and geography – and are associated with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center, and San Diego State University.

Founded in January 2010, AFRN aims to serve as a hub for interdisciplinary communication and collaboration on methods for studying artisanal fisheries, and for elucidating the commonalities and differences across fisheries in different regions where our research is conducted. What unites AFRN researchers and their projects is a recognized need to study the ecological, social, economic, and cultural context of artisanal fisheries in order to move toward effective management and conservation.

Project Support

Artisanal fisheries are defined as small-scale operations that catch fish for subsistence or for local markets. Globally, these fisheries catch approximately 30 million tons of fish annually for human consumption (the same amount as commercial fisheries), and provide protein and income for an estimated 500 million people. However, these fisheries have the capacity to significantly alter marine ecosystems through overfishing and habitat damage. Nevertheless, they are also our greatest hope for achieving sustainable harvests, because they are more efficient than commercial fisheries in terms of much lower bycatch and fuel use and much greater employment.

Ayana Johnson conducting socioeconomic interviews with fishermen at a roadside fish stand in Curaçao.

Understanding and reducing the negative impacts of artisanal fisheries on the marine environment is a rapidly emerging priority for marine conservation, and is critical to both the health of marine ecosystems and the welfare of people who depend upon them. To better understand, scientists must engage in interdisciplinary research that considers each the ecological, social, economic, and cultural aspects of artisanal fisheries. Collaboration among scientists, projects, regions, and disciplines is critical if research is to contribute to effective, well-informed management.

By synthesizing the collective expertise and experience of researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and beyond, the team will develop and disseminate standardized methods to better document and understand the socioeconomic and cultural context of artisanal fisheries, with the aim of producing results that are applicable to effective management.

Small-scale fisheries provide income for many times the number of people as industrial fisheries while using far less fossil fuel. Photo: Ted Groves.

The Big Research Questions

1 )  What are the environmental impacts of artisanal fisheries and how can they be minimized?

2)  What is the socioeconomic and cultural context, and how can sustainability be incentivized?

3)  Can management guidelines be generalized instead of continuing to treat each fishery as unique?

AFRN aims to serve as a kernel of collaboration within the field of small-scale fisheries research.

  
Research Team Leaders

Stuart Sandin (Principal Investigator) is an Assistant Professor of Marine Ecology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.  Sandin and his lab group work on questions of community ecology, addressing how species-rich marine ecosystems are affected by changing climate and changing interactions with humans.  Coral reefs are a core habitat for this research, as they provide many services to the people living nearby, from fisheries productivity to tourism revenue.  The ecological research in the Sandin lab provides insights that are essential to improve management of marine ecosystems for the generations to come. 
  
  

Tara Whitty (founder and co-chair) is a biological oceanography PhD candidate at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She aims to understand ecological and sociocultural aspects of human impacts on the environment, and to work with communities in developing nations toward conservation, management, and capacity-building for research and conservation. For her dissertation, she is studying the bycatch (accidental capture) of cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises, and whales) in artisanal fisheries. Her research comprises: (1) a collaboration with the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission to develop a report on cetacean conservation in developing countries, and (2) ecological and social science fieldwork to study Irrawaddy dolphin bycatch in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. She has a bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a certificate in Environmental Studies from Princeton University, and has conducted ecological and conservation research in several tropical developing nations.
 

Ayana Johnson (co-chair) is the Director of Science and Solutions at the Waitt Foundation. Her goal is to restore the ocean to cornucopic abundance, with a particular focus on supporting sustainable use of ocean resources for the approximately 1 billion people in developing countries who depend on the ocean for the their nutrition and livelihoods. She travels the world to collect, create, curate, actualize, and amplify the best ideas in ocean conservation and blogs about it at ayanablog.com. In 2011, Ayana completed a marine biology PhD at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Her research, conducted on the Caribbean islands of Curaçao and Bonaire, took a holistic approach to understanding how to sustainably manage coral reefs by incorporating ecology, economics, and sociology. This included research on trap fishing proving escape gaps can reduce fish trap bycatch by 80% without reducing catch value (that research won Rare’s Solution Search competition) and socioeconomic interviews with 400 of Curaçao and Bonaire’s fishermen and SCUBA diving instructors to understand their views on coral reef health and management options. Recently, Ayana completed a Knauss Sea Grant Fellowship focused on projects related to the National Ocean Policy and the National Shellfish Initiative.

Hannah Bassett (project coordinator and co-chair) is a Research Associate in Professor Sandin’s lab at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and has been involved with AFRN since it’s founding in 2010. Hannah is particularly interested in the fusion of natural and social sciences resulting in a truly whole-ecosystem approach to fisheries studies. She sees interdisciplinary research and collaboration as a necessity for working towards preservation of the world’s marine resources and is dedicated to promoting work that will best inform management efforts. In 2012, Hannah’s research will be focused on the small-scale fisheries of American Samoa in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and National Park Services. Specifically she will be assessing the need and potential for continued monitoring of American Samoa’s fisheries and the effectiveness of research methods developed by AFRN. Hannah received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of California, San Diego in 2008 and has worked in cetacean acoustic research for the past four years.

About Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Scripps Institution of Oceanography is one of the leading institutions in ocean science of the world, conducting groundbreaking research and education in physical, chemical, biological, ecological, geological, and geophysical systems of the oceans and earth. A department of UC San Diego, Scripps’ leadership in many scientific fields reflects its continuing commitment to excellence in research, modern facilities and ships, distinguished faculty, and outstanding graduate and undergraduate students.

Resources

Artisanal Fisheries Research Network Website
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Website

Grant Recipient: Wildlife Conservation Society
Project Support: Marine Expansion of Coastal Protected Areas in Argentina
Term: 2012/2013

Argentina’s coastal and ocean environments are unique due to the extended and relatively shallow continental shelf. The system supports a variety of resident and visiting charismatic species, such as southern right whales, southern elephant seals, Magellanic penguins and black-browed albatrosses, among many others. Argentina has a system of coastal protected areas but the marine component is almost negligible. During the last few years, this reality has begun to change and there are attempts to improve the representation of the marine environment in the protected area system.

Project Goals

This project seeks to conserve wildlife on the coast of Argentine Patagonia by creating and strengthening protected areas in key sites on shore and at sea. These areas will form part of a network with explicit connectivity between coastal and offshore habitats that will increase protection for the large and unique populations of marine birds, mammals, and fish that depend on this marine ecosystem.

Priority areas: Península Valdés, Punta Tombo, Golfo San Jorge, Isla Pingüino, Monte León, Is. de los Estados, and Burdwood Bank.

WCS will provide the information needed to support the creation of the proposed protected areas and fill essential knowledge gaps where required. They will work with provincial governors and their technical staff, as well as the Federal Government, to draft legislation for the creation of these protected areas. Further, WCS will work with legislators in the House of Representatives of the respective provinces and Argentina’s National Congress to assist and shepherd the legislation process. This process will include the provision of essential information and technical capacity to provincial and national protected area managers, and will guide coastal conservation and management in the region. New policies for marine ecosystem conservation, a Southern Cone Marine Atlas, and a web site publically sharing distribution of key coastal and marine species and habitats will be valuable outputs.

Because of its 40-year presence in Argentina, its well-regarded contributions to conservation, and the connections it has built with the Argentine Government over this time, WCS is in a unique position to develop and deliver this multi-pronged strategy for increasing wildlife protection across the multiple governmental jurisdictions on the coast of Argentine Patagonia.

Field Expertise

Dr. Claudio Campagna has been a member of the National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET) and a researcher for the Wildlife Conservation Society since the early 1980s. He lives and works in Patagonia, Argentina. His specialty is the social behavior of marine mammals, particularly seals and sea lions. In the 1990s, he was part of the team that conducted the Patagonian Coastal Zone Management Plan funded by GEF-UNDP. The latter was the first attempt to integrate management of an extended coastal area in Argentina and one of the first in South America. Today he is promoting the Sea and Sky project, a vision of an oceanic reserve along the border of the Patagonian continental shelf. He divides his present conservation interests between Sea and Sky and understanding the ideological aspects of the conservation movement.

Claudio is a Wildlife Conservation Society conservation zoologist, with an MD from the University of Buenos Aires and a PhD in animal behavior from the University of California at Santa Cruz. For his work on the conservation of the Patagonian Sea, he has been elected a Pew Fellow in marine conservation. Claudio divides his efforts into three areas: field research on the biology of marine mammals, conducted at Peninsula Valdes (Argentina); conservation work; and writing essays and fiction. He is convinced of the urgent need to promote the conservation agenda using creative communication tools. Claudio has been published widely in scientific literature, served on the SSC Steering Committee between 2004 and 2008, is Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Marine Conservation Sub-Committee, and is a member of the Pinniped Specialist Group. 

Dr. Claudio Campagna - WCS / Marine Mammals

Resources/Media

WCS, Argentina’s Waters
WCS, Patagonia
WCS Website
Facebook

Grant Recipient: Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
Project Support: Improving Environmental Science in Cuba for Healthy Marine Ecosystems
Term: 2012/2013

EDF’s work to protect important shared marine resources in the U.S. Southeast, the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean depends upon close working partnerships with world-class — but under-resourced and little-known — Cuban environmental scientists. A biodiversity hotspot, Cuba has regionally important marine and coastal ecosystems.  With connectivity to the United States, the window of opportunity is now to share our resources and to work together towards solutions.

Over the past 12 years, and with a special license from the U.S. Department of Treasury, EDF has built strong relationships with Cuban environmental institutions and Cuban environmental scientists, who are among the best educated and most experienced in the region. Cuban scientists’ rigorous research has informed important environmental policy initiatives, including the Cuban government’s decision to include 25% of the insular shelf in marine protected areas (MPAs). The current 108 MPAs represent the following:

     - 15% of the Cuban insular shelf          - 16 fish spawning  sites
     - 35% coral reefs                                      - 31% seagrass beds
     - 27% mangroves

However, because of inadequate funding and other constraints on research, field work in Cuba has been limited and much remains unknown about critical issues such as overfishing, the benefits of MPAs, and ecosystem vulnerability to changing ocean conditions. These gaps in knowledge hamper the development of sound environmental policy and effective fisheries management.

Project Goals

With support from the Waitt Foundation, EDF is launching a new initiative in 2013, led by Dan Whittle, to support collaborative field research with scientists from Cuba’s Center for Marine Research.  This initiative will enable teams of Cuban and American scientists to carry out a series of two- to four- week research cruises aboard the Cuban research vessel Felipe Poey and will support year-round port sampling of shark landings in at least four Cuban ports.

The overarching project goal is to generate scientific research that can inform sound policy to improve the performance of fisheries and MPA networks. Specific objectives are to:

1. Facilitate Cuban environmental scientists’ research and promote international awareness of Cuba’s high-quality marine science.

2. Collect biological and ecological data essential to the management of sharks and selected reef fish.

3. Assess the biological, ecological and socioeconomic performance of existing Cuban MPAs.

4. Characterize the socioeconomic contribution of fisheries and MPAs to the economy.

5. Use research results to inform conservation and management strategies.

Field Expertise

Daniel Whittle directs EDF’s work to advance conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems in Cuba. He works with Cuban scientists, lawyers and resource managers to identify and implement collaborative strategies for fisheries management, coral reef conservation, and sustainable coastal development in Cuba and the region.

For the last decade, Whittle has been collaborating with Cuban fishermen, scientists and environmental officials on ways to protect shared resources like fish and marine mammals. Operating under a special license from the U.S Treasury Department, he’s also working to ensure that the right safeguards are in place for projected oil development off Cuba’s northwest coast.

Resources/Media

EDF, Cuba Website
Cuba Marine Science Expedition
EDF’s Website

Rapid Ocean Conservation (ROC) Grants Program
a project of the Waitt Foundation

The Rapid Ocean Conservation (ROC) Grants Program provides small grants with a quick turnaround time for solutions to emerging conservation issues. This complements the Waitt Foundation’s existing major grants program and is responsive to conservation opportunities, supports higher-risk ideas at a low financial cost, and engages with small, local NGOs domestically and abroad.

ROC Grant Program Focus

Grants will fund projects related to the WF mission of supporting sustainable fishing and marine protected areas (MPAs). This includes sub-themes of:

Scientific research. Includes natural science or social science projects. For example, collecting baseline data before coastal development or MPA establishment, or studying fishery effects of a natural (e.g. tsunami) or man-made (e.g. oil spill) disaster. As appropriate (e.g., if AUVs/ROVs are involved), project execution could be organized in collaboration with WI.

Policy. Includes opportunistic projects around unique public policy windows, such as preparation of policy analysis and support of experts’ efforts to inform decision makers on upcoming government actions. For example, a cost-benefit analysis of proposed fishing regulations, or travel expenses for a delegation of scientists to educate elected officials.

Management. Includes enforcement and infrastructure support. For example, stop-gap funding to increase enforcement capacity in light of a sudden uptick in illegal dynamite fishing, or training personnel to enforce new regulations about to go into effect.

Communications. Includes raising public awareness and engaging stakeholders, including advertizing by a 501(c)3 group around a public policy moment. For example, a PR blitz (e.g. billboards or radio adds) to educate the public in advance of a vote on an ocean conservation measure, or training local people to become citizen scientists or enforcement tipsters.

Funding

Proposals for grants up to $10,000 will be reviewed on a bi-monthly basis. Proposals up to $20,000 will be considered, but granted highly infrequently. Project funds will be distributed with in 2 weeks of funding decisions. More rapid turnaround is possible for highly urgent projects.

Evaluation Criteria

Funding urgency: how quickly the project needs to begin for maximum effectiveness

Conservation impact: magnitude of ecological, socioeconomic, and policy benefit

Scale of impact: geographic area and likeliness of applicability/replication elsewhere

Feasibility of implementation: based on socioeconomic and political context

Organizational capacity: adequacy of staff size and expertise to execute project

Eligibility

Project must support sustainable fishing and/or MPAs as elaborated in the program focus section.

Applicants need not hold advanced degrees, but must demonstrate a commensurate level of experience and expertise with respect to the proposed project.

Applicants must have and maintain legitimate affiliation with an academic institution or NGO for the duration of the grant project.

ROC grants should constitute the sole or primary source of funding for the proposed project, not serve as complementary funding for larger, more costly projects.

Spending of grant funds must commence within 1 month of granting, and be completed within 6.

Funds cannot be used for event sponsorships (e.g. conferences, workshops).

Application Process

First, please review our grantee requirements.

All applicants must submit a project specific budget for how the Waitt Foundation funds would be used, therefore, please be prepared to attach your budget during the online submission (sample budget).  Applications without a budget will not be considered.

We require all grant applications to be submitted via our website. The Waitt Foundation does not accept proposals by e-mail, mail or fax.  To submit an application online, click here. Please note that this application is part of a larger two stage system, however, ROC grants applicants are only required to complete the first stage.

Proposal Review Process

Proposals are reviewed bi-monthly. Applications submitted by the 1st Friday in January, March, May, July, September, or November, will be considered for a grant distribution in the following month.

Program Manager

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Ph.D.
Director of Science and Solutions

Ayana is a marine biologist with a Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She has a particular interest in holistic approaches to sustainable management of ocean resources the incorporate ecology, economics, and sociology. Joining the foundation in 2012, she spends a majority of her time on the road with the mission to collect, create, curate, actualize, and amplify the best ideas in ocean conservation. Her primary motivation is ensuring sustainable seafood for the approximately 1 billion people in developing countries who depend on the ocean for the their nutrition and livelihoods. She has a BA from Harvard University in Environmental Science and Public Policy, and has worked on ocean policy at NOAA and the EPA. You can find out more about her research on her website, and follow her adventures in ocean conservation on her National Geographic blog.