characterizing harmful behaviors of divers and snorkelers to coral reefs in puerto rico
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Characterizing harmful behaviors of divers and snorkelers to coral reefs in Puerto Rico. Dr. Thomas Webler Karin Jakubowski Social and Environmental Research Institute July 25, 2012. Anthropogenic Threats. Overfishing Artisanal fishers Recreational harvesting - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Characterizing harmful behaviors of divers and snorkelers to coral
reefs in Puerto Rico
Dr. Thomas WeblerKarin Jakubowski
Social and Environmental Research Institute
July 25, 2012
Anthropogenic Threats
• Overfishing– Artisanal fishers– Recreational harvesting
• Toxins and nutrients from run-off and spills – Inadequate sewage
treatment– Improper sediment
management at construction sites
– Deforestation– Agricultural practices– Dredging– Oil spills– Illegal discharges
Source: Caribbeanwaterman.com
Anthropogenic Threats
• Climate change– Ocean warming– Ocean acidification
• Mechanical damage– Anchor damage– Ship groundings– Military bombing– Collection– Accidental breakage– Infection– Suffocation
• Fishing gear• Trash• Silt and sediment
Scuba Snorkeling
Recreational Misuse
Recreational harvesting
Mechanical breakage
Suffocation
Infection
Why bother with recreational misuse?
• We should reduce every stressor we can
• Fair treatment promotes acceptance and compliance
• High visibility = a teaching moment, a chance to build public awareness
Why Focus on Puerto Rico?
• 93% reefs listed as threatened by WRI’s Reefs at Risk report
• 84% at HIGH risk• Tourism is growing and
important sector• Economic value of reefs:
$1.8billion (La Cordillera)Estudios Técnicos Inc., 2007
• No Data on recr. misuseSource: WRI
Blue=LOW, Yellow=MED, Red=HIGH, DkRed = VERYHIGH
80%
60%
40%
20%
La Cordillera
CulebraTres Palmas
Taino Wall
Margarita Caja de Muertos
Study Site: Reef Locations in the East
Icacos Lobos Diablo Palomino Palominito
Culebra: Tamarindo Grande
La Cordillera Nature Reserve
Data Collection Methodology
• Permission of commercial vessel owner and captain
• Unobtrusive observation
• First in, last out• 5 minutes• Return trip survey of all
passengers
Results: Baseline Data
Divers January 2011 – May 2011
121 observations592 minutes
93% of observations lasted for 5 minutes
316 contacts were observed
SnorkelersAugust 2010 – February 2011
218 observations1230 minutes
67% of observations lasted for 5 minutes
344 contacts were observed0.28 contacts per minute0.53 contacts per minute
Fin Kicks
Majority of contacts for both divers and snorkelers
39 % of diver contacts
37% of snorkeler contacts
Siltation
21% of diver contacts
13% of snorkeler contacts
Hand Touches
18% of divercontacts
16% of snorkeler contacts
Body Brushes11% of diver contacts
2% of snorkeler contacts
Equipment Contacts
11% of diver contacts
Touching Things
3% of diver contacts
5 % of snorkeler contacts
Picking up something
0.9% of diver contacts
6% of snorkeler contacts
Sitting, Kneeling or Standing0.6% of dive contacts
19% of snorkeler contacts
Collecting
0% of diver contacts
2% of snorkeler contacts
Feeding Fish
0% of divers were observed feeding fish
3% of snorkelers observed feeding fish
Types of Behaviors Observed in Divers
Distribution of Total Contacts Fin Kick
Sit, Stand
Touch
Silt
PickUP
Harrass
Body
Collect
Equipment
Types of Behaviors Observed in Snorkelers
Distribution of Total Contacts
Fin Kick
Sit, Stand
Touch
Silt
PickUP
Harrass
Bruch
Collect
Summary of Results Diver and Snorkeler Contact Rates Study Location Mean Number
of Contacts per minute for Divers
Mean Number of Contacts per minute per Snorkelers
Medio et al. 1997
Egypt 0.2
Barker et al. 2004
St. Lucia 0.25 0.05
Prior et. al. 1995
Egypt 0.14
Rouphael & Inglis 2001
Australia 0.04
Webler & Jakubowski 2011
Puerto Rico 0.53 0.28
Self Report Surveys
Self-Reports of Behaviors on SurveysObserved Self-reported
Average contact rate for subset of divers who were observed and surveyed
0.44(n = 27)
0.06(n = 27)
Average contact rate for subset of snorkelers who were observed and surveyed
0.178(n= 41)
0.02(n=41)
Scuba divers under report their contacts by 7.3 timesSnorkelers under report their contacts by 8.9 times
Self-Reports of Behaviors
• Self-reports appear to be consistently inaccurate– More analysis of our data is needed
• It may be possible to use self-report data instead of in-water observational data
Can we change people’s behavior?
Public Education
• Rina Hauptfeld – Tres Palmas– Education and outreach
to local community
• Public educational campaigns
Previous Messaging Efforts
• NOAA paid for reef etiquette video by Ziggy Livnat
• PR DNER paid for Coral PSAs by Marc Pierson• But neither was designed with a theory of
environmental behavior• Neither is being shown on the dock• One is too long (7 min), other too short (1 min)• Evaluations of effectiveness?
Strategic Messaging
• Based on a theory of environmental behavior• Value-Belief-Norm theory• Developed by Paul Stern (NAS) in 1995• Tested in numerous settings
Self-Direction
Security
Benevolence
Attitudes
Values Beliefs Norms Behavior
Awareness of consequences
Efficacy
Social Norms
Acceptance of Responsibility
Intention to Act
Actions
Value Belief Norm Theory (Paul C. Stern)
Values
Definitions• “Stable principles that
help us make decisions when preferences come into conflict” (T. Dietz)
• “Motivational beliefs” (S. Schwartz)
1. Self-Direction2. Stimulation3. Hedonism4. Achievement5. Power6. Security7. Conformity8. Tradition9. Benevolence10. Universalism
Other VBN components
• Awareness of consequences– Knowledge of how the system will react– “Some corals can burn”
• Acceptance of responsibility– Realization that my action is necessary to be consistent with
my attitudes and to realize my values • Efficacy
– Perception that I have the capacity to act with effectiveness• Social Norms
– Perceptions that others are doing this action and that others would approve of this action
Self-Direction
Security
Benevolence
Attitudes
Values Beliefs Norms Behavior
Awareness of consequences
Efficacy
Social Norms
Acceptance of Responsibility
Intention to Act
Actions
Value Belief Norm Theory (Paul C. Stern)
Play video here
Message Text VBN component
Snorkelers come to Puerto Rico to experience its remarkable coral reefs.
Asserts positive environmental attitude toward reefs
Of course, we would never deliberately do anything to hurt marine life.
Reinforcement and appeal to value of benevolence
However, even experienced snorkelers can accidentally impact the reef. Awareness of consequences
Keeping a little distance from coral reefs and sea life helps ensure your safety and protects the reef!
Self-Efficacy
If you need to adjust your mask, swim away from the reef first. Self-Efficacy
When you are near the reef, it’s a good idea to float horizontally at all times. Social norm
Theory behind message design
Snorkeler Pledge
Most visitors to coral reefs never touch, kick, or stand on the coral. They are careful not to stir up the sand near the coral with their fins. Coral are fragile and, if injured, are slow to recover. Keeping a safe distance from the reef is the best way to ensure these beautiful reefs are here for future generations. If you need to fix your mask or snorkel, it is best to swim away from the reef first.
I pledge to be a responsible visitor to the reef by:• Being aware of where my fins are at so I don’t kick the coral• Treading water instead of standing on the reef• Not stirring up silt near the reef• Keeping a safe distance from all marine organisms
Treatment For Snorkelers
• Pre-trip video• On boat pledge
• Secretive observation
• On-boat survey
Second Year Observations – SnorkelersJanuary 2012 – May 2012
No video or pledge
110 observations 490 minutes
66% of observations lasted for 5 minutes
113 Contacts were observed0.23 per minute
Video and pledge
120 observations 552 minutes
78% of observations lasted for 5 minutes
19 Contacts were observed0.034 per minute
Mann-Whitney U Test (Comparing 2011 and 2012 control groups)
No significant difference
Contacts per minute per subject observed
Perc
enta
ge o
f peo
ple
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.20.000
0.100
0.200
0.300
0.400
0.500
0.600
0.700
0.800
2011 Control2012 Controls
Year 1 Year 2
Mean 0.27 0.25
Number 217 113
P value 0.43
Mann-Whitney U Test (Comparing all controls with treatment)
6.5 times lower reef contact frequency
Control Treatment0.000
0.050
0.100
0.150
0.200
0.250
0.300
Contacts per minuteAll control Treatment
Mean 0.26 0.04
Number 328 120
P value 0.000
% Who did not contact reef
All Control Treatment0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Policy Implications
Relevance of Results for Policy Making
• Local Action Strategies• Concessionaire Licensing Process• Boat Mooring Buoy Locations• Individual Business Owners• Marine Reserve Management
Policy Relevance
• Visitor contact is one stressor facing reefs
Policy Relevance
• Visitor contact is one stressor facing reefs• We need to manage all the stressors
Policy Relevance
• Visitor contact is one stressor facing reefs• We need to manage all the stressors• Different stressors can be dominant at
different reefs
Policy Relevance
• Visitor contact is one stressor facing reefs• We need to manage all the stressors• Different stressors can be dominant at
different reefs
• We need a strategy to capture the full scope of reef vulnerability
OceanTemperature Pollution Over-
FishingRecreational
MisuseHazard
OceanTemperature Pollution Over-
FishingRecreational
Misuse
Spatial extentDuration
Magnitude
Hazard
Exposure
OceanTemperature Pollution Over-
FishingRecreational
Misuse
Spatial extentDuration
Magnitude
DepthCurrents
Hazard
Exposure
Sensitivity
OceanTemperature Pollution Over-
FishingRecreational
Misuse
Spatial extentDuration
Magnitude
DepthCurrents
Hazard
Exposure
Sensitivity
Sun ShadesAdaptive and Coping Actions
OceanTemperature Pollution Over-
FishingRecreational
Misuse
Spatial extentDuration
Magnitude
Spatial extentConcentration
DepthCurrents
CurrentsSpecies
Hazard
Exposure
Sensitivity
Sun Shades Erosion ControlAgr. Practices
Adaptive and Coping Actions
OceanTemperature Pollution Over-
FishingRecreational
Misuse
Spatial extentDuration
Magnitude
Spatial extentConcentration
Number and type removed
DepthCurrents
CurrentsSpecies
AccessibilityProtected area
Hazard
Exposure
Sensitivity
Sun Shades Erosion ControlAgr. Practices
Temporary MPA
Adaptive and Coping Actions
OceanTemperature Pollution Over-
FishingRecreational
Misuse
Spatial extentDuration
Magnitude
Spatial extentConcentration
Number and type removed
Contact RateVisitor Hours
DepthCurrents
CurrentsSpecies
AccessibilityProtected area
AccessibilityDepth
Hazard
Exposure
Sensitivity
Sun Shades Erosion ControlAgr. Practices
Temporary MPA Site Selection
Adaptive and Coping Actions
Possible Management Actions to Address Recreational Misuse
• Best practices workshop for tour operators and crew
• Boat captains and tourism companies should develop a systematic plan for how to minimize visits to highly vulnerable reefs.
• Give shore visitors information on how best to access the reef
Cora
l Ree
f Man
agem
ent P
lanOcean
Temperature Pollution Over-Fishing
RecreationalMisuse
Spatial extentDuration
Magnitude
Spatial extentConcentration
Number and type removed
Contact RateVisitor Hours
DepthCurrents
CurrentsSpecies
AccessibilityProtected area
AccessibilityDepth
Hazard
Exposure
Sensitivity
Sun Shades Erosion ControlAgr. Practices
Temporary MPA Site Selection
Adaptive and Coping Actions
Cora
l Ree
f Man
agem
ent P
lanOcean
Temperature Pollution Over-Fishing
RecreationalMisuse
2 1 7 2
1 8 5 5
Hazard
Exposure
Sensitivity
1 2 2 5Adaptive and Coping Actions
(2 * 1)/1 =2 (1*8)/2 =4 (7*5)/2 = 17 (2*5)/5 =2Vulnerability
Dynamic Vulnerabilities
March June September December0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
TemperaturePollutionFishingRecreationTOTAL
Thank You!
Dr. Thomas Webler
Karin Jakubowski (PhD student)
Social & Environmental Research Institute
www.seri-us.org