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Upcoming Events

Citizen Science for Coastal and Marine Environments Webinar #1: Reef Check California, COASST, and MPA Watch

Event Date: 
Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 2 pm US EDT/11 am US PDT/6 pm GMT

Thinking about starting a citizen science program and wondering how to make it successful? On this webinar, organizers from three marine citizen science programs along the U.S. West Coast will describe how their programs work and answer questions from webinar participants. The webinar will last 1.5 hours to allow ample time for questions/discussion after the presentations. Featured presenters and projects are:

  • Jan Friewald from Reef Check California. Reef Check California trains and leads volunteer scuba divers as citizen scientists to conduct surveys of the fish, invertebrate and algae communities on nearshore rocky reefs to provide data to marine management and foster a science-based ocean stewardship. Learn more at www.reefcheck.org/rcca/rcca_home.php
     
  • Julia Parrish of the University of Washington. The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) is a seabird monitoring program that generates baseline data to help assess patterns of seabird mortality due to natural and human-induced events across both time and space. Learn more at http://depts.washington.edu/coasst/what/vision.html
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  • Sarah Sikitch of Heal the Bay. MPA Watch volunteers are trained to observe and collect human use data on coastal and marine resource use within and outside marine protected areas (MPAs). This program provides insights on how people are using recently established MPAs, and the data can be used to inform MPA management. Learn more at www.healthebay.org/get-involved/volunteer/mpa-watch.

The second webinar featuring Australian citizen science projects (to be held at an Australia/Pacific-friendly time will be announced shortly. This webinar is co-hosted by the EBM Tools Network and OpenChannels.

To register, visit: 
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/519867936

Webinar on Big Ocean MPA Network: addressing the common challenges of Large, Remote Marine Protected Areas by Aulani Wilhelm of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument

Event Date: 
Thursday, June 13 at 1 pm EDT / 10 am PDT / 5 pm GMT

Is big always better?  Big Ocean is a network of managers and partners of existing and proposed large-scale marine managed areas. The network’s aim is to improve the effectiveness of management efforts, to serve as a peer learning resource and support system, and to build the professional standards of practice for large, remote MPAs. The six founding member sites in Australia, the United States, Kiribati, Chagos (UK) and Chile represent more than 900,000 mi2 (2.3 million km2) of ocean ecosystems -- roughly the same size as the Mediterranean Sea. Webinar co-hosted by the NOAA National MPA Center, MPA News, and OpenChannels. Register for the webinar at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/176985136.

To register, visit: 
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/176985136

Webinar on SocMon: Social Science Monitoring in Coastal and MPA Management by Peter Edwards of the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

Event Date: 
Thursday, July 11 at 1 pm EDT / 10 am PDT / 5 pm GMT

How do we know what impacts MPAs and other coastal management tools are having on the lives of people who live nearby?  This information is critical for management decisions, but often lacking. The Global Socioeconomic Monitoring Initiative for Coastal Management (SocMon) works through regional and local partners to conduct community-based socioeconomic monitoring.   Partners collect household and community level data about dependence on coral reef resources, perceptions of resource conditions, threats to marine and coastal resources, and support for strategies such as marine protected areas.  Take a look at some of these monitoring exercises and learn about findings, lessons learned and challenges facing effective use of human dimensions data as part of coastal resource management. Webinar co-hosted by the NOAA National MPA Center, MPA News, and OpenChannels. Register for the webinar at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/971236993.

To register, visit: 
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/971236993

Citizen Science for Coastal and Marine Environments Webinar #2: Latest Research, Redmap Australia, Reef Watch, and Feral or In Peril

Event Date: 
July 18 at 10 am Australian EST / July 17 at 5 pm US PDT

The Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) Tools Network and OpenChannels.org are pleased to announce that they are hosting two webinars on Citizen Science for Coastal and Marine Environments. This second webinar featuring emerging research on marine citizen science in Australia, Redmap Australia, Reefwatch, Feral or in Peril, and Monitoring Seas and Inspiring Communities will be held on July 18 at 10 am Australian EST (July 17 at 5 pm US PDT). Please note the that this is a different time from our regular webinars. A description of the webinar and information on registering are below.

Thinking about starting a citizen science program and wondering how to make it successful? On this webinar, organizers from three marine citizen science programs in Australia will talk about their citizen science experiences and answer questions from participants. The webinar will last 1.5 hours to allow ample time for questions/discussion after the presentations. Featured presenters and projects are:

  • Carla Sbrocchi of the University of Technology, Sydney. Carla is currently completing a research study on the contributions of citizen science in the coastal and marine environment in Australia and will present an overview of her findings.
     
  • Gretta Pecl of the University of Tasmania. Range Extension Database and Mapping (Redmap) allows Australians to share sightings of marine species that are ‘uncommon’ to their local seas. Over time, Redmap will use this citizen science data to map which Australian marine species may be extending their distribution range in response to changes in the marine environment, such as ocean warming. Learn more at www.redmap.org.au.
     
  • Alex Gaut of the Conservation Council South Australia. The Reef Watch monitoring program provides recreational scuba divers, snorkelers and others with the skills to gather valuable information about temperate reefs (both subtidal and intertidal). Reef Watch survey methods are scientifically valid and provide data that is comparable with data collected by scientists. Data is provided to relevant government agencies to improve adaptive management of marine ecosystems. Learn more at www.conservationsa.org.au/reefwatch-home.html. Feral or in Peril is building an early warning network of recreational divers, anglers and boaters to help keep track of introduced marine pests that are a potential threat to marine ecosystems as well as local species of conservation concern. Learn more at www.conservationsa.org.au/feral-or-in-peril.html.  Monitoring Seas and Inspiring Communities (MOSAIC) is a brand new program starting with two pilot projects to implement citizen science in South Australia’s new marine park network.

Register for the webinar at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/803572384.

To register, visit: 
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/803572384

Webinar on Drawing the Line: visualizing global MPA distribution using practical protection categories with MPAtlas.org by Lance Morgan and Russell Moffitt of the Marine Conservation Institute

Event Date: 
Thursday, August 8 at 1 pm EDT / 10 am PDT / 5 pm GMT

Currently, only about 1.8% of the world’s oceans are in MPAs; far less than the 12% of land area that is protected. Of the world’s MPAs, only a small fraction—less than half—are in areas designated as no-take marine reserves, places where fishing is prohibited. MPAtlas.org is an interactive online compilation of key information on the world’s MPAs to help users locate and learn about individual MPAs. Speakers will discuss country- and regional-level progress towards implementing MPAs and allow users to obtain information on the distribution of MPAs relative to social, political, and ecological contexts. Webinar co-hosted by the NOAA National MPA Center, MPA News, and OpenChannels. Register for the webinar at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/834025201.

To register, visit: 
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/834025201