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Coastal News from the Field: Recent Developments on Decision Support Tools for Habitat Restoration Management

By Ellis Kalaidjian

In today’s era of heightened environmental awareness and the urgent need for sustainable practices, habitat restoration management tools play a pivotal role in guiding conservation efforts and ecosystem revitalization. One such tool is the habitat suitability index (HSI), which offers a structured approach to assess the viability of habitats and make informed decisions about restoration strategies. HSIs leverage scientific data and spatial analysis to pinpoint areas with the highest potential for restoration success, thereby maximizing the efficiency and impact of conservation initiatives. As we strive to protect and restore our natural habitats, tools like the HSI provide a blueprint for achieving tangible and lasting ecological benefits.

In a study recently published in Coastal Management, researchers from the Nature Conservancy and Nova Southeastern University developed a HSI for oyster reef restoration efforts in the Pensacola Bay System, Florida, with the goal of pinpointing areas most conducive to oyster habitat regeneration. The HSI framework incorporated seven critical factors influencing oyster reef viability, including contemporary oyster reef presence, bottom dissolved oxygen levels, historical oyster reef data, oyster recruitment rates, summer mean salinity, seagrass coverage, and substrate type. Each factor was scored and spatially analyzed to generate a composite HSI raster for the entire PBS area.

An oyster reef in the Pensacola Bay System, FL

Key findings from the HSI analysis revealed varying suitability scores across the study area, with higher scores concentrated in central East Bay and southeastern Escambia Bay regions. The highest suitability areas (HSI > 0.74) represented optimal locations for restoration, covering approximately 16% of the PBS. Model validation was conducted using independent data from area oyster fishers, confirming an 87% agreement with medium to high suitability HSI areas. The study emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement in refining and validating the HSI, ensuring practical applicability and acceptance among restoration practitioners.

The HSI not only streamlines site selection for restoration projects but also aids in understanding the complex factors influencing oyster reef decline. Historical exploitation, pollution events, and sedimentation emerged as primary drivers of reef loss in PBS, highlighting the need for targeted restoration efforts in less impacted areas. The research underscores the value of integrating quantitative data and stakeholder knowledge into decision-making processes for coastal restoration. Additionally, the study demonstrates the feasibility of constructing reliable HSIs and emphasizes their role as decision support tools in ecosystem restoration initiatives.

In conclusion, the development and validation of the PBS-specific HSI represent a significant step towards effective oyster reef restoration planning. By focusing efforts on areas with the highest suitability, restoration practitioners can maximize success while conserving resources, contributing to the long-term recovery of oyster habitats in the PBS.

Citation: Geselbracht, L., Johnston, M., DeAngelis, B. M., & Birch, A. (2024). Estuary-Specific and Adaptive Habitat Suitability Index Model for the Eastern Oyster Crassostrea Virginica in the Pensacola Bay System, Florida, USA. Coastal Management, 1-18.

Disclaimer: This post does not serve as an endorsement of the author’s opinion, nor does it express the views of The Coastal Society.

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TCS Professional Spotlight Sessions in 2023: Two More Members Who Light the Way

By Steven MacLeod and Ashley Gordon

The Coastal Society hosted two Professional Spotlight sessions in 2023, featuring seasoned TCS professionals who discuss their career paths and provide career tips to students and young professional members. The Professional Spotlight sessions are TCS member-focused events that are part of the Coastal Connections web conferencing series. The video sessions were recorded via Zoom; TCS members may request a link to these recordings by sending an email here. To receive invitations for future Professional Spotlight sessions, please be sure your TCS membership is current. Join or renew at Membership – The Coastal Society. You can also read more about the Coastal Connections series on the TCS website. 

Larry Cahoon (Ph.D.), Professor of Biology and Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and current Director on the TCS Board, was our guest speaker during the session on April 11, 2023. Dr. Cahoon shared tales about his educational background at Washington and Lee University and Duke University, and approximately 40 years of experience as a professor, with research focusing on biological oceanography (which he calls a “contact sport”) and coastal ecosystem dynamics.

Larry also discussed his experiences in public policy in North Carolina, including an appointment by the North Carolina Governor beginning in 1985 to serve on the NC Marine Science Council. Larry also served as chair of the NC Ocean Resources Task Force from 1993 to 1996 and later was involved in the NC Legislative Study Subcommittee on Offshore Energy. He gained further notoriety for his role in identifying the extent of per/polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contaminants in the Cape Fear River.

Larry highlighted his three key elements of teaching: 1) know your stuff, 2) meet students where they are, and 3) show them you care that they learn. He also advised that preparation is the key to academic and professional success in whatever you do, including meetings, publishing your work, developing proposals, and testifying in court. Larry emphasized the importance of honesty and maintaining personal and professional integrity when encountering potential deception, manipulation, or abuse.

Discussion following Dr. Cahoon’s presentation focused on topics including navigating an academic career path, student mentorship from academic faculty, science communication tips, and trends in academic teaching methods over the past several decades.

Jill Meyer, Senior Vice President at Lynker Technologies, was our guest speaker during the session on July 6, 2023. She described her path to becoming a consultant following an undergraduate focus on biological research (including 2 years in Costa Rica) and a shift to science and policy management graduate program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Following a Knauss SeaGrant Fellowship supporting several federal projects (with a focus on remote sensing), Ms. Meyer joined the consulting world as a Project Manager with a former company. She has since ascended to her current role at Lynker, wherein she manages multi-million-dollar government contracts.

Jill discussed pros and cons of serving as a government contractor, which depends partly on the employee focus of a given contracting group. For example, there is a broad range of work opportunities, but contract employees may be perceived as having less stature than full-time government employees. Jill also discussed skills for success as a manager, including a strong multi-disciplinary technical background, solid organizational and communication skills, and an adaptable leadership style with an ability to multi-task and motivate staff. Jill offered some takeaways for developing a professional career path, such as remaining curious and open to opportunities, letting go of “perfection”, developing a professional support network, continuously honing communications skills, maintaining a focus on what motivates you, and recognizing when a position/project is not a good fit.

Following her presentation, Jill responded to questions by noting that she stays plugged into scientific developments through proposal writing. She encouraged participants interested in a certain government organization to ask them who they contract with and look for postings on forums like Indeed. Jill again emphasized the value of improving communication skills through books like “22 Talk Shifts” and apps that help refine your language.

We thank both our guest speakers for taking time to share their insights! 

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TCS Hosts Forum on Priority Issues in North Carolina with UNC Wilmington and North Carolina Sea Grant

By Ellis Kalaidjian

The North Carolina coastline is a treasure trove of natural beauty and biodiversity. However, with this beauty comes a complex tapestry of coastal issues that are ever-evolving. From the threat of rising sea levels and intensifying storms to the delicate balance of preserving ecosystems while accommodating human activities, the coastal region of North Carolina finds itself at the intersection of environmental challenges and community resilience. Such challenges demand thoughtful discourse amongst the state’s coastal stakeholders, which prompted The Coastal Society to join forces with North Carolina Sea Grant and the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) to host a Forum on Priority Issues in North Carolina on November 6th, 2023.

The forum was held at UNCW’s Center for Marine Science, where 85 registrants from professional organizations (50 participants) and students (35 participants) gathered for the day.  The forum kicked off with a thought-provoking keynote presentation from the Director of the NC Division of Coastal Management (NCDCM), Dr. Braxton Davis, followed by the first of three plenary panels of speakers hailing from academic institutions, state government, and non-profit organizations. The first plenary panel covered topics in natural and community resilience. Amongst the panel were the Research Director of the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory, Dr. Arthur Greer, whose talk focused on the Collaboratory’s role in facilitating research partnerships and coastal marsh protection; Mackenzie Todd, the Coastal Resiliency Coordinator at the NCDM, who delved into the NC Resilient Communities Program; Ryan Davenport, Carteret County’s Shore Protection Manager, presented on the intricacies of locality beach management planning; and the Executive Director of the NC Coastal Federation, Todd Miller, who covered the policy, strategies, and lessons learned surrounding living shoreline implementation.

Karly Lohan chats with CMS Director Dr. Ken Halanych & TCS Executive Director Judy Tucker in the main lobby of the Center for Marine Science. In the background are TCS planning team members Dr. Larry Cahoon & Dr. Jenny Biddle.

The second plenary panel delivered a series of presentations on the research and management of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are among the most pervasive industrial compounds in NC’s watersheds. Presenters included Rachylle Hart, Program Coordinator of UNCW’s Center for Marine Science; Dr. Pingping Meng, Assistant Professor at Eastern Carolina University; Riley Lewis, White Oak Waterkeeper with Coastal Carolina Riverwatch; Dana Sargent, the Executive Director of Cape Fear River Watch; and Emily Donovan, Co-Founder of Clean Cape Fear. The final panel featured three presentations on the ecological, policy, and management dimensions of offshore wind development in NC, given by Karly Lohan, the NC Program and Outreach Manager of the Southeastern Wind Coalition; Daniel Govoni, the Federal Consistency Coordinator of the NCDCM; and Dr. Martin Posey, Professor of Biology & Marine Biology at UNCW. Concurrent breakout sessions for both panels saw active engagement and rich discourse amongst their audiences.

NCDCM’s Daniel Govoni talks about the Federal Consistency review process for offshore wind.

The forum also included a student poster presentation session, where several NC students were able to showcase their research to the forum’s audience of practitioners and fellow academics, and concluded with remarks from TCS’s newest president, Dr. Paul Ticco, and a networking event held at Wilmington Brewing Company to end the day! We would like to congratulate first-place poster presentation winner, Olivia Trahan from UNCW, on her presentation titled “Species Richness and Abundance of Ascidian Species in Larval Collector Bags from Penobscot Bay of P. magellanicus”, and Jillian Eller, a Ph.D. candidate from ECU, whose presentation titled “Exploring the MSP Challenge: A Map for Marine Energy Engagement” won second place .

Once again, TCS and its partners succeeded in facilitating fruitful conversations about coastal conservation measures of ever-increasing importance amongst a diverse landscape of coastal stakeholders. In the end, we were delighted to learn that this event introduced 70 non-members to TCS, a significant milestone in our mission to engage with broad audiences on coastal management and conservation. As always, be on the lookout for upcoming web-based and in-person events on our website!

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Coastal News from the Field: Nonprofit Organizations’ Roles in Living Shorelines Promotion

By Ellis Kalaidjian

In an era of escalating climate change and rapid urbanization, the vulnerability of coastal communities to the devastating impacts of rising sea levels, intensified storms, and erosion has become increasingly evident. In this precarious context, the significance of nature-based solutions (NBS) in bolstering coastal resilience cannot be overstated. Nature, with its intrinsic ability to adapt and regenerate, offers a blueprint for sustainable strategies that harmonize human development with the natural world. Yet, despite a growing demand for NBS—evidenced by increased attention to NBS in climate change policy 1—traditional, hardened infrastructure is still the mainstream for coastal resilience projects. This disconnect requires, among other things, reflection on the roles that many stakeholders will need to play in the promotion of NBS alternatives, given the multiple jurisdictions involved in coastal management. In a recent publication in Coastal Management, a group of researchers from Old Dominion University, including TCS member Michelle Covi, investigated the roles that environmental nonprofit organizations can play in the promotion of a particular type of NBS, living shorelines.

The study employed a qualitative research approach to analyze the roles of several Virginia-based environmental nonprofits and the activities they undertake in encouraging living shorelines over shoreline hardening. The researchers conducted a series of interviews with senior-level staff of each nonprofit, in which they probed information related to the organizations’ work related to shoreline management and the centrality of this work to their mission, collaborations with other nonprofits and contractors, and their advocacy activities at the local, state, or federal level. Interview recordings were transcribed and then qualitatively coded to identify overlapping themes related to roles amongst the transcripts.

Five roles were identified in their analysis: (1) public education about living shorelines, (2) advocacy for living shorelines, (3) technical assistance to design and install living shoreline projects, (4) training for professionals to increase capacity for living shoreline projects, and (5) access to funding. The first role, education, is the primary role played by environmental nonprofits in promoting living shorelines, and public education activities mentioned in interviews included holding standalone information sessions, workshops, and other events targeted at the general public. Advocacy, the second main role, came in many forms in the study sample, ranging from local-level advocacy efforts to, e.g., incorporate NBS in local zoning ordinances, to national-level advocacy efforts to mobilize resources for living shorelines. Several nonprofits in their sample also emphasized the roles they play in assisting with the permitting, planning, design, and construction phases of NBS projects, often acting as intermediaries between property owners and contractors. Along with offering technical assistance, nonprofits offer training to prospective NBS actioners through specialized certification programs. And, lastly, several interviewees’ organizations underscored their roles in mobilizing funding for living shorelines in the form of, e.g., localized cost-share programs to help incentivize living shoreline implementation on private properties or assistance navigating the expansive landscape of federal grant programs.

While maintaining recognition of the local specificity of this study’s results, their findigs allow us to confidently speculate about the potential roles, both upstream and downstream of the living shorelines regulatory process, that environmental nonprofits can play in NBS promotion nationwide. As the authors conclude, the practical implications for promoting greater involvement by the nonprofit sector in shoreline management include the following:

  • Extensive involvement in public education – identifying best practices for improving how effectively nonprofits engage with and educate the public.
  • Encouraging advocacy at different levels of government to receive feedback regarding effectiveness of permitting process and regulatory specification on the ground.
  • Ensuring nonprofits have adequate and up-to-date scientific and technical knowledge to design and build living shoreline projects.
  • Support in publicizing training programs and partnering with more nonprofits on defining training standards and delivering training programs.
  • Expanding nonprofit partnerships that focus on funding access for property owners and construction professionals training to incentivize more living shoreline projects in coastal areas.

Citation:

Saitgalina, M., Yusuf, J. E., & Covi, M. (2023). Shoreline Management and Coastal Resilience in Virginia: Analysis of the Roles of Environmental Nonprofit Organizations in Encouraging Living Shorelines. Coastal Management, 51(3), 172-185.

Disclaimer: This post does not serve as an endorsement of the author’s opinion, nor does it express the views of the Coastal Society.

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TCS Coastal Connections Web Meeting on Natural Marine Sanctuaries

By Ashley Gordon

From the majestic depths of the ocean to its vibrant coastlines, our planet’s marine ecosystems have long captivated the human imagination. Recognizing the profound significance of these underwater wonders, national marine sanctuaries (NMS) emerged as beacons of conservation and exploration. Serving as underwater havens for biodiversity and cultural heritage, these sanctuaries embody our commitment to safeguarding the natural treasures that lie beneath the waves. As our world faces mounting environmental challenges, the importance of these sanctuaries has never been more evident. This vital conservation measure was the topic of the fifteenth session of The Coastal Society Coastal Connections Web Series, held on Thursday, February 23rd through Zoom.

This session saw twenty-one attendees that included both current TCS members and non-TCS members. Steve MacLeod, TCS Past President, kicked off the session by providing a brief overview of TCS and the Coastal Connections web series. The session was then moderated by Ellen Brody, Regional Coordinator of the Eastern Region of the NOAA NMS Program. Ellen provided a brief history of the NMS. NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuaries Program recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022. In 1972, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act was passed, which also coincided with the Coastal Zone Management Act. In 1974, the first NMS was designated after the discovery of the USS Monitor. Ellen then touched on the current state of the NMS Program and how it works. As she explained, the current NMS landscape covers more than 620,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters (map of current sanctuaries available here). NMSs support resource protection, research and monitoring, education and outreach, and community engagement. Sanctuary Advisory Councils are established for each NMS that bring together a variety of interests and provide advice to the NMS program.

This session’s panelists included Paul Michel, Regional Policy Coordinator for the West Coast Region, and LeAnn Hogan, Regional Operations Coordinator for the Eastern Region, who shared examples of how NMS make a difference. On the west coast, the NMS program supported research and the establishment of the West Coast Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) Program to reduce the number of whale ship strikes. Over 18 global shopping companies and 559 ships have participated, resulting in a 50% reduction in ship strikes on whales and the additional benefit of greenhouse gas reduction. In the Florida Keys, the Damage Response and Restoration Program of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuaries supports addressing impacts from vessel groundings, including vessel and debris removal and seagrass and coral reef restoration.

Another key discussion topic was the evolution of the NMS system over time. In 2014, a new approach to NMS system expansion was established that focused on a community-based process. Communities submit a nomination to NOAA that is then reviewed and, if accepted, placed on the NMS inventory. In addition to recent sanctuary expansions (Flower Garden Banks) and new NMS designations (Mallows Bay-Potomac River and Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast), the panelists discussed the following proposed NMS:

  • Chumash Heritage (lead by Paul Michel) – Located in the Pacific Ocean off the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County coastlines, this area is ecologically rich and dynamic with unique geomorphological features and historic shipwrecks. Proponents of the sanctuary, the Sierra Club, Surf Rider, and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, highlighted a myriad of issues the NMS could address and the importance of recognizing Indigenous heritage and cultures. The NMS program is working to involve Tribal Bands in collaborative management approaches.
  • Hudson Canyon (lead by LeAnn Hogan) – Located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New York and New Jersey, this ecological hot spot serves an important economic role for commercial and recreational fisheries. The Wildlife Conservation Society submitted the nomination. Given the large number of stakeholders engaged in this area of the ocean, the Hudson Canyon process has included a collaborative public scoping process to identify the potential NMS boundaries.
  • Eastern Lake Ontario (lead by Ellen Brody) – The nomination was submitted by four counties and the City of Oswego with support from the State of New York and focused on maritime heritage resources. As part of this designation process, NMS is working with the Haudenosaunee Confederacy to re-establish their connection with their ancestral lands. The notice of proposed rulemaking was recently published, and it is anticipated the designation will be finalized in a year.

Following these presentations, the group discussed topics that included regulations and enforcement within NMS, the selection of NMS and pace/prioritization for going through the designation process, and coordination with fisheries management and offshore wind development.

Overall, this session facilitated a fruitful conversation about a conservation measure of ever-increasing importance. NMS stand as vital guardians of our marine heritage, inspiring us to protect and preserve these fragile ecosystems for future generations. We learned a lot from our panelists, and the results from our post-event survey revealed that our participants did too—100% of respondents found the event to be extremely informative! With another successful TCS Coastal Connections in the books, we look forward to seeing you at the next one.

The session was recorded and posted on the TCS YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB6IH2Cvmo4

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TCS Professional Spotlights in 2022: TCS Members Learned about Coastal Career Paths

By Ashley Gordon

As part of The Coastal Society’s Coastal Connections web conferencing series, the Coastal Society (TCS) hosted two Professional Spotlight sessions featuring TCS members in 2022. During these Spotlight sessions, TCS members have the opportunity to learn about the career path of a featured TCS member, discuss career tips, and connect with other TCS members at various stages of their careers. To receive invitations for future Professional Spotlight sessions, please be sure your TCS membership is current. Join or renew at Membership – The Coastal Society. You can also read more about the Coastal Connections series on the TCS website. 

Our 2022 featured speakers included Amy Whitt, founder and CEO of Azura Consulting, LLC, and Don Davis, Director of Oral History for the Louisiana Sea Grant Program. Highlights from each of the sessions are shared below. To access recordings of these sessions, TCS members may request a link by sending an email to admin@thecoastalsociety.org.

Amy Whitt, founder and CEO of Azura Consulting, LLC, was our guest speaker during the session held on May 17, 2022. Amy provided an overview of her career path to starting and growing an environmental consulting firm that provides services focused on the research, conservation, and management of protected species, populations, and habitats, outreach and education, and professional communication. The Azura team has worked with federal and state agencies, private organizations, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and the offshore energy industry. Amy also shared her experiences working in marine mammal and sea turtle research, coastal environmental management, conservation and education, and ocean policy.

Amy offered several tips for pursuing a career path in environmental consulting, including the importance of writing skills, maintaining a personal resume database of your skills, training, and certifications, building your professional network, and volunteering time to give back to the scientific community. View Amy’s presentation HERE.

Don Davis (PhD), Director of Oral History for the Louisiana Sea Grant program, was our guest speaker during the session held on October 6, 2022. Don recently co-authored a book, Asian-Cajun Fusion: Shrimp from the Bay to the Bayou, with Carl Brasseaux. This book traces the origins of the shrimp drying industry in the United States back to 1870, when Chinese immigrants founded the industry in New Orleans. The coastal Lousiana region continues to export dried shrimp to Asian markets domestically and internationally. Don noted that “the [coastal Louisiana] landscape is and has always been a working coast. The coast is not a place but a process; it only becomes a place when people live there.”

Don offered several pieces of advice based on his experiences, including how critical it is to understand the human dimension and engage with people before making decisions. Don also emphasized the importance of following your passion, learning something new everyday, and working hard while maintaining a work-life balance. View Don’s presentation HERE.

We thank all our guest speakers for taking time to share their stories! Stay tuned for more TCS Coastal Connections sessions coming in 2023!

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2022 TCS Coastal Career Workshop in New Orleans

By Tom Bigford

On December 4th, 2022, TCS convened its 22nd Coastal Career workshop in New Orleans. This ongoing workshop series is part of TCS’s Margaret A. Davidson (MAD) Coastal Career Development Program, which was initiated in 2018 to prepare the next generation of coastal professionals. The workshop was sponsored by Louisiana Sea Grant, the National Academy of Science’s Gulf Research Program, and the Louisiana Science Teachers Association (LSTA), and was hosted by the Meraux Foundation. Among the workshop’s key partners were Restore America’s Estuaries, which was hosting its biennial summit the following week, and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.

Strong sponsor support enabled TCS to test five approaches not attempted in earlier MAD workshops:

1. Given that this was the first completely in-person event in the last two years, we established clear protocols to reduce the risk of covid-19 and classroom or field accidents. We employed safe distancing when indoors and every one of our 62 attendees completed a legal release for accidents. This was very important as we switched venues for talks and breaks around the host campus and then used bus transportation to offsite destinations

2. Next, we collaborated with the LSTA to reach STEM high schools, thereby shifting beyond our traditional focus on graduate schools to include students as early as 10th grade. We had a particularly strong showing from the high school upper-classes.

A view of the audience in the opening sessions of the MAD New Orleans workshop in December 2022. Attendees heard from four coastal experts before breaking into smaller groups for discussions about job trends, career options, professional skills, and much more.

3. We designed special activities and talks for the younger students in high school, at community colleges, or early in a four-year program while continuing to provide academic and professional career advice to attendees closer to their terminal degree. The most popular hands-on module was underwater research, and favorite talks covered job-hunting skills, networking, USAJobs, and contracting with state and federal agencies.

4. We supplemented our morning of introductory talks and break-out sessions with three afternoon stops along the Mississippi River to view a sampling of the coastal careers shared by our morning speakers – tree farming to provide material for shoreline protection, oyster restoration efforts supported by shell recycling programs, and one of many diversion structures redirecting river waters into coastal marshes.

Workshop participants visit the plant and tree nursery at the Meraux Foundation campus. Roots of small shrubs and trees help to strengthen coastal lands and reduce erosion.
Shift change at the oyster shell recycling site managed by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. Bags of recycled shells are placed in coastal waters to provide clean settling surfaces for oyster larvae and to dampen storm surge and coastal erosion.

5. Finally, we made a conscious effort to attract a more diverse audience than had participated in earlier workshops. We greatly exceeded expectations with student attendees but not our speakers. Our efforts will continue as we seek a representative cross-section of students and speakers.

This workshop was the most recent example of how TCS is improving the MAD Coastal Career Development Program. We look forward to continued success with our slate of workshops in 2023. Watch https://thecoastalsociety.org/ for the latest on upcoming MAD workshops.

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Coastal News from the Field: Considering the Human Well-Being Impacts of Marine Protected Areas

By Ellis Kalaidjian

A comprehensive approach to sustainable development considers social impacts in environmental management and policy decisions. In practice, this requires decision-makers to have a nuanced understanding of how the services afforded by natural environments contribute to the livelihoods and well-being (generally understood as a measure of quality of life) of individuals and communities adjacent to them. The relationships between communities and their surrounding environments are dynamic and often place-specific. This month’s edition of the Coastal News from the Field series features a timely study by researchers from the University of St. Andrews, who explore the livelihood and well-being impacts of the Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve, a marine protected area (MPA) in Kenya, on nearby communities. The article was recently published in Coastal Management.

Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve (WMNPR) was designated as a protected area in 1968 and as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1979. The MPA comprises over 40 km2 of coral reef, seagrass, mangrove, and sandflat habitats. Nearby villages are supported by key ecological and economic services provided by this habitat complex. The MPA’s offshore reefs provide coastal protection and, along with the mangrove and seagrass habitats, serve as important spawning ground habitat for fish species. Various livelihoods, including fishing, tourism-based activities, fuelwood harvesting and beekeeping, are also supported by the MPA. Yet, land-use changes and other anthropogenic stressors have degraded the ecosystems upon which the coastal Kenyan region heavily relies.

A map of the WMNPR and its regional setting (source: Kenya Wildlife Service, 2016)

The research team investigated how the presence of the WMNPR has impacted the livelihoods of those in proximity to it and, in turn, three dimensions—material, relational, and subjective—of such individuals’ well-being. Researchers surveyed 308 inhabitants of two towns, Uyombo and Mida, that differed socio-demographically and in their geographic proximities to the MPA. Uyombo is closer to the MPA than Mida yet is more removed from the economic activities and tourism associated with it. Through various statistical analyses of survey responses, the study offered several key findings:

  1. As anticipated, primary livelihoods differed significantly by town; owning a small business (selling clothes, fruit, etc.) was the most frequently reported livelihood in Uyombo, whereas crop farming was most engaged in by respondents from Mida. Yet, differences in levels of dependence on the WMNPR between the two villages could not be confirmed.
  2. Two key benefits were cited most often by survey respondents: (1) the MPA has contributed to improvements in their health, and (2) the MPA has allowed them to enjoy a healthy coastal ecosystem. By contrast, the most often reported disbenefits of the MPA were a decrease in natural resource management participation, as well as increased conflict and social tension.
  3. The benefits and disbenefits reported captured all three dimensions of well-being.

The authors conclude that their findings have significant implications for both research and the management of the WMNPR. The direct influence of WMNPR on the livelihoods of residents in Uyombo and Mida may be smaller than previously believed. For researchers, this suggests that trades such as fishing, which are overstudied in investigations of the communities that are impacted by MPAs, should be considered more evenly alongside others to ensure that vulnerable demographics are not overlooked. The finding that respondents were often dissatisfied with their decreased participation in the management of the areas comprising the WMNPR suggests that its governance needs to further promote bottom-up approaches that will comprehensively address the identified disbenefits. Moving forward, continued research about the dynamics of communities’ relationships with MPAs will help further inform management that adequately weighs well-being considerations.

Citation: Harker, A. L., Stojanovic, T. A., Majalia, A. M., Jackson, C., Baya, S., & Tsiganyiu, K. D. (2022). Relationships between Livelihoods, Well-Being, and Marine Protected Areas: Evidence from a Community Survey, Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve, Kenya. Coastal Management, 1-24. DOI: 10.1080/08920753.2022.2126266

Disclaimer: This post does not serve as an endorsement of the author’s opinion, nor does it express the views of the Coastal Society.

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TCS Members in the Spotlight during the 2021 Coastal Connections Series

By Steven MacLeod and Ashley Gordon

The Coastal Society (TCS) hosted three Professional Spotlight sessions featuring TCS members in 2021. Each Spotlight session features seasoned TCS professionals who share their career paths and provide career tips to students and young professional members. These events also serve as an opportunity for members to connect and network. The Professional Spotlight events are hosted as part of the Coastal Connections series to benefit TCS members. The video sessions were recorded via Zoom; TCS members may request a link to these recordings by sending an email here. To receive invitations for future Professional Spotlight sessions, please be sure your TCS membership is current. Join or renew at Membership – The Coastal Society. You can also read more about the Coastal Connections series on the TCS website.  

Kristen Fletcher (J.D.), Faculty Associate at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California, was our guest speaker during the session held on Monday, May 10, 2021. Kristen provided an overview of her professional journey, stemming from law degrees at Notre Dame and Lewis and Clark Law School. This included working for NOAA Sea Grant for 10 years at the University of Mississippi and Roger Williams University. She then took the role of Executive Director of the Coastal States Organization. During this time, she became involved with TCS and served a term as TCS President.

Kristen and her family later moved to California, where she explored several employment options (such as founding her own environmental consulting firm) before joining the NPS. At the NPS, she has helped lead the development of the NPS Climate and Security Network. Kristen noted several professional lessons learned, including being open to change (whether you choose it or not!) and being generous with your time to connect with others. She encouraged participants to ask for support from their professional network.

Discussion following Kristen’s presentation focused on topics such as facilitating multiple ocean uses through marine spatial planning, balancing multiple professional interests in your career, and the value of identifying metrics to track your professional accomplishments (e.g., percent growth of your organization). View Kristen’s presentation HERE.

Michael Orbach (PhD), Professor Emeritus of the Practice of Marine Affairs and Policy at Duke University, was our guest speaker during the session held on Thursday, July 8, 2021. Mike discussed his educational background leading to a Ph.D. in Anthropology from U.C. San Diego. He then took a position with NOAA as a social science advisor before returning to academic roles at UC Santa Cruz, East Carolina University, and Duke University. He has served on numerous boards and commissions, including a role as President of The Coastal Society in the mid-1990s and a current position as chair of the National Research Council’s Committee on Offshore Science and Assessment which advises the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Mike’s research has focused on domestic and international fishery management and social science applications in coastal management and policy. He advised young professionals to be creative and willing to make a change to do something out of the ordinary. Mike also stressed the importance of developing a network of contacts, noting that this was key to his own career transitions and led to a relatively unique position as a “professor of practice”.

Following Mike’s presentation, discussion with participants included a “bottom-up” approach to stakeholder engagement, whereby Mike observed that we cannot “force a solution” and expect to achieve consensus. He suggested that while research and advocacy were important in achieving a conservation goal, most of the work relates to facilitating the coordination and implementation of ideas. Mike also offered tips for pursuing international jobs. View Mike’s presentation HERE.

Rebekah Padgett was our guest speaker for the session on Thursday, December 15, 2021. Rebekah is the 401/CZM Federal Permit Manager for the Washington (State) Department of Ecology (DOE) responsible for water quality certification and coastal consistency reviews, a role she has held since 2004. She outlined her educational background leading to a Master’s in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island. She noted brief roles with the National Park Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and a consulting firm before joining DOE. In 2019 and 2020, she was on sabbatical, performing marine debris research for the Centre for Action Environment Science Society (CARESS) in Tamil Nadu, India.

Rebekah emphasized the importance of building lasting, reciprocal relationships and seeking different perspectives. She also spoke on the value of continuous learning, being flexible, staying open to new opportunities, and volunteering. Rebekah previously served on the Board of Directors for TCS and is currently volunteering with Ecologists Without Borders as their representative to Global Partnership on Marine Litter.

Rebekah’s presentation was followed by a discussion that covered exploring fellowship opportunities as a student, building a network with others in your field, how to highlight skills developed through diverse experiences when applying for a new job, and how regulatory/permitting positions can provide exposure to diverse types of projects.

We thank all our guest speakers for taking time to share their stories! 

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TCS Coastal Connections Discusses Coastal Storms and Community Resilience

By Ellis Kalaidjian and Ashley Gordon

Coastal communities are experiencing more intense storms under a changing climate—this past Atlantic hurricane season was the third most active in recorded history, hosting one of the five costliest hurricanes to impact the US. Future storm impacts are predicted to be exacerbated by continued sea-level rise and population growth along coastlines, combined with climatic changes breeding favorable environmental conditions for the development of more frequent intense storms. Building coastal community resilience is thus continually placed on local, state, and federal agendas, and it served as the subject of the Coastal Society’s (TCS) Coastal Connections session, held on October, 21, 2021. A recording of the session is available here.

TCS President, Steve MacLeod, initiated the session by familiarizing attendants with TCS and the Coastal Connections web series and then inviting attending Board Members to introduce themselves. The session was moderated by Kim Grubert, Project Consultant on the Sustainability, Energy, and Climate Change team at WSP USA, Inc. and TCS Chapters Committee Co-Chair. Presentations were then given by the following panelists: Erik Heden, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Newport/Morehead City, NC, and Jill Gambill, Coastal Resilience Specialist at University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant.

Erik Heden provided an overview of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) extensive community outreach initiatives. NWS organizes hurricane outlook talks with core partners that provide information on potential hurricane impacts. During Hurricane Preparedness Week in May, NWS conducts outreach that includes messaging related to developing an evacuation plan, assembling a disaster supply kit, and getting flood insurance (more information is available at https://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness). NWS also organizes outreach talks for schools and community groups that offer safety information related to rip currents, floods, lightning, and hurricanes. Mr. Heden also touched on the efforts of the NWS Newport/Morehead City office, which coordinates with NC Sea Grant to provide information related to sea-level rise and potential impacts. Specific outreach requests include providing talks for military professionals related to hurricane preparedness and outreach booths at community events. New outreach efforts include NWS hurricane community forums (in-person and virtual) that focus on sharing key preparedness messages and the Weather Ready Nation Ambassador program to support community engagement. NWS Tropical SKYWARN and Integrated Warning Team training are also available. For more information on flood risk and outreach efforts, visit weather.gov.

Jill Gambill discussed NOAA Georgia Sea Grant’s efforts related to coastal resilience planning for coastal storms and sea level rise. In coastal Georgia, more than 10 inches of sea-level rise has been measured at the NOAA Fort Pulaski tide gauge since 1935. Tide gauge data supports that the frequency and magnitude of flooding in coastal Georgia are increasing, and the regional rate of sea level rise is accelerating. Sea Grant is working to increase community capacity and mitigate risk to natural hazards. Current Georgia Sea Grant efforts include diversifying their workforce, progressing equitable access to resources and decision-making processes, and seeking community input on communicating flood risk. Georgia Sea Grant, with funding from NOAA’s Weather Program Office and in collaboration with the NWS, is developing virtual reality simulations of structural flooding from storm surge. The platform also provides methods to explore the benefits of different mitigation measures, such as elevating a home or purchasing flood insurance. Ms. Gambill also highlighted the importance of considering environmental, economic, and social benefits of community projects and provided an example of urban tree restoration efforts in Savannah that have multiple benefits of flood reduction, heat reduction, workforce development, and youth engagement.

To continue the TCS discussion of climate change challenges for coastal communities, our next Coastal Connections session will be focused on sea level rise. The Coastal Connections discussion will be held on Wednesday. March 30th from 3-4pm Eastern. Join us to learn about trends in sea level rise, considering recent data in comparison to the geological record, and participate in a discussion about sea level rise impacts on coastal resources and general mitigation approaches. Featured speakers include:

  • John Englander, Oceanographer/Author
  • Molly Mitchell, PhD, Research Assistant Professor at Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Following presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their own expertise in a moderated discussion. To participate in this free event, please register on Eventbrite at the following link: https://tcs-coastal-connections-web-meeting11.eventbrite.com