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Outreach and Education USVI Style:

Virgin Islands Territorial Fishery Stakeholder Engagement Initiative (VITFSEI)

Presentation to the Caribbean Fishery Management CouncilApril 11, 2012

Lia OrtizNOAA CRCP ContractorUSVI Liaison

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Marine and Fisheries Resources Management & Conservation

Global problem

Local action

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Outreach and Education: USVI Style

Phase 1: Understanding the USVI community and its

interactions with the environment

• Community structure and demographics

• Community relations and culture

• Historic ethno-ecology

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The USVI Fishery: A Dynamic History

Hispanic immigration to USVI

vs

SOURCE: Alexandris, K., Ortiz, L., and Pittman, S. 2010. An ethnoecological investigation of social resilience and adaptation patterns: a Caribbean/USVI fishing community case study. Resilience 2011: Resilience, Innovation, and Sustainability. Navigating the Complexities of Global Change. Second International Science and Policy Conference, Tempe, Arizona. March 11-16, 2011.

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Addressing the issue

Phase 2: Identifying and Acknowledging the gaps• Determine the capacity of community through gauging

the awareness and knowledge

• Identify and develop best means for maintaining open, reciprocal communication

• Providing scientifically sound data based in social science techniques to inform efforts (lead by the academic research team at UVI)

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Bridging the gaps

Phase 3: Engaging, Educating and Motivating

• Engaging community in planning and development

• Educating community through implementation

• Motivating community through engaging and educating

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Virgin Islands Territorial Fisheries Stakeholder Engagement Initiative (VITFSEI)

• Fishing community representatives• Non-governmental Organizations• Academia• Resource Management Agencies

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VITFSEI is one shared vision

USVI marine environment and fishing community

around for generations to come

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VITFSEI formed in response to…

USVI Local Action Strategies

Community Interest!

USVI’s Coral Reef Management Priorities

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program’s Domestic Goals and Objectives 2010-2015

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VITFSEI Goals

• Increase community awareness• Improve community knowledge• Support and build community capacity• Strengthen relationships• Increase understanding of, and support for, management actions 

• Establish grounds for ownership of marine and fisheries resources  

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The USVI Community

Regulators, Scientists, Supporters

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VITFSEI tiered process

VITFSEI

Quantifying gaps

Addressing

Gaps

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Evaluation and Monitoring

•Attendance/Demographics assessment

•Pre- and Post-workshop marine and fisheries science literacy questionnaire

•Quarterly or semiannual newsletter

(aimed to educate, communicate and seek perspectives)

•Marine Environmental Community Awareness Project Results

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Deliverables

• Newsletter-Post Phase II• Phase I and II Proceedings•Scientific articles-Bi-annual• Bi-annual highlight of

accomplishments

Timeline

Phase I: 6 months

Phase II: 6 months

Phase III: 6 months

First Cycle:

January 2013-July 2014

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Long Live VITFSEI!

Biannual Cycle

Sustaining

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VITFSEI Broader Impacts

• Need for minimizing challenges and gaps between science and society is evident pertaining to marine and fisheries environmental resources

• Empower communities and resource managers to develop a framework that can serve as a long-term approach to adaptive communication and education efforts

• Fostering sustainable ecological, economic and socio-cultural outcomes of human and environment interactions

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CFMC Outreach and Education Plan for the USVI

Developing a framework:

MECAP VITFSEI

Ideal world!

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CFMC Outreach and Education Plan for the USVI

Developing a framework:

MECAP VITFSEI

Other efforts

Reality

System changes

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Coming up with a plan…

Phase 1: Identifying the awareness and knowledge gaps

Phase 2: Addressing these gaps by setting goals, objectives and strategies

Phase 3: Using the previous adaptive framework for developing the plan, incorporating Phases 1-2

Biannual revisions, 5 year goals

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Collaborators

Lia Ortiz (NOAA CRCP) Paige Rothenberger (CZM, STXEEMP)

Christine Settar (VIMAS) Kostas Alexandris (UVI-CMES)

Edward Schuster (SCCFA) Gerson Martinez (SCCFA)

Carlos Farchette (CFMC) Julian Magras (STFA)

Kemit Amon-Lewis (TNC) Anne Marie Hoffman (TNC)

William Coles (DFW) Alex Webbe (UVI-MMES)

Marcia Taylor (VIMAS) Roy A. Pemberton, Jr. (DFW)

Juan Cruz (DFW)

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Links to previously mentioned documents:

USVI Local Action Strategies

http://www.coralreef.gov/las/lasfactsheets2009/las09/lasusvi.pdf

http://www.coralreef.gov/las/USVI%20LAS.pdf

USVI’s Coral Reef Management Priorities

http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/strategy/reprioritization/managementpriorities/resources/usvi_mngmnt_clr.pdf

NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program’s Domestic Goals and Objectives 2010-2015

http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/strategy/currentgoals/resources/3threats_go.pdf

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Questions?

Primary Contacts:

Lia Ortiz (Lia.Ortiz@noaa.gov)

NOAA-CRCP Contractor

USVI Liaison

Christine Settar (csettar@uci.edu)

UVI-VI Marine Advisor

Paige Rothenberger (Paige.Rothenberger@dpnr.gov.vi)

DPNR CZM-Coral Reef Initiative Coordinator