Field Notes: Knauss in Nova Scotia

Two weeks ago, I went on an adventure to the Canadian Maritimes to attend a conference focused on community-based management entitled People in Places: Engaging Together for Integrated Resource Management.  Aside from wanting to learn more about a region that in many ways resembles our own northeastern coast, I am always looking for ways to nurture my own interdisciplinarity and was curious to explore how notions of “integrated” and “community-based” are realized on an international scale.  In addition to spending the week in Halifax, Nova Scotia’s biggest city, I met some inspiring people, learned about how our neighbors handle resource management conflicts, and was exposed to tangible successes around the world. 

First off, this conference was sponsored by what I now realize is essentially the Canadian equivalent to our Sea Grant program, where universities partner with community groups to build capacity and facilitate research projects.  This angle brought a refreshing mix of people representing First Nations, fishing communities, and academia (with government and conservation nonprofits largely absent) and showed me that Canadians struggle with many of the same problems of pollution, marginalization, environmental illiteracy, and overfishing that plague the U.S.   However, two differences were noticeable: (1) that Canadians might be even more disenchanted with their federal resource agencies and (2) that community-based management is more than a buzz word and could be emerging as a viable path for this province and in small countries around the world. 

  

Having limited experience with artisanal fishing, my eyes were opened to a new world after hearing local stories and learning the history of island and coastal villages along Newfoundland and the Bay of Fundy.  (For one thing, I now understand some of the controversies that NOAA faced in sharing it’s fisheries management review and catch share plans with the northeast region a month ago).  I also understand some of the key components of successful community-based management after listening to case studies from around the world, including climate adaptation in Mexico, mapping in the Grenadines, access rights in British Columbia, sea cucumbers in New Caledonia, and fishers in South Africa and Japan.  In all of these countries, people are working very hard to empower communities by integrating traditional and scientific knowledge.  New tools for conducting this work include community-access GIS, a modeling program called “Marxan” that will tell you the pros and cons of certain management choices, and even developing seafood traceability and community-supported fisheries (modeled after the popular CSA farm share model – check out Josh's CSF project and CSF network for more info!).     

Overall, this conference reminded me that the human element is critical and should not be overlooked.  Livlihoods, emotions, storytelling, bankruptcy, cooperation, public works, families, and art all contribute to social contracts and the economy, not to mention community well-being.  After meeting these people, hearing their stories, and cruising the subtly beautiful coastline with my Mom, I feel tied to their resource management efforts and will follow these projects with both intellectual curiosity and compassion.  Stop by my cube any time to chat about the details!

Among Giants... Inspiration over Lunch

Yesterday, Knauss fellows went to a brown bag seminar about a wonderful life (and career) of traveling the world in search of whales.  Who is lucky enough to land such a job, you might ask?  One Flip Nicklin has been doing this since the early 1960s, which is nearly the beginning of time as far as whale research is concerned.  Not only has he worked at the forefront of cetacean discovery since its birth, but he has seen it all through the lenses of his camera, both above and below the water.  That’s right folks, Flip not only participates in whale expeditions, but he’s been the National Geographic photographer responsible for some of the most iconic images that introduced whales to the world.

As with so many careers, this one also began fortuitously.  When Flip was a kid, his sea-faring father saw a whale close to their boat and simply jumped into the water to swim with it.  As if that wasn’t enough, Flip’s dad mounted it’s back and rode the whale long enough to get a quick photo snapped.  This image made him a sensation across the country and a whale expert overnight, and the rest has fallen into place ever since. 

This humble yet passionate man before us hasn’t just seen history, he’s been one of a select few that has written it, for whales that is.  In this era of the primacy of science, it is easy to forget that so little was known about whales even sixty years ago.  Through his work, Flip pioneered the use of new technologies such as photo ID and acoustic surveys to track “friendlies” and listen to “singers.”  Through decades of stunning images and experimental observation and science, Flip has shown society the nuances of different whale species.  He acknowledged that this hasn’t always been as easy as it sounds, because it is through this type of work that people define their perceptions of and relationships to these mysterious giants.  In a way, what we think toward so many animals, people, or geographic regions is completely governed by what we know or see, and it is important to remember that our knowledge is often a compilation of snapshots or partial-truths that inevitably engender bias.  Without realizing it, this bias determines our values, especially when it comes to conservation and resource management. 

Of course, I am not arguing for any particular set of values, just that we all think about the root of our own beliefs and truths.  Through his snapshots (or works of art, really), Flip shared many of his most heartfelt experiences with us.  His work has taken him around the world to the exotic landscapes of Sri Lanka and the frozen wonderland of the Arctic.  I can’t think of a better way to spend my lunch hour than learning about these gentle giants.  Thanks for the inspiring presentation, Flip!

Highlights from Capitol Hill Oceans Week

Two weeks ago, Knauss fellows gathered en masse to learn from research experts, authors, communicators, and decision-makers working in marine resource management and conservation across the country.  What was the occasion for such an intellectual feast?  In case you missed it, Capitol Hill Ocean Week spanned World Oceans Day and saw many smart people hoping to spread awareness into the center of our policy-driven D.C. world.  Presentations ranged from portside capacity to sharks and Shakespeare’s maritime writings.  Knauss fellows spilled in and out as the days progressed, made good contacts, and were reminded of the familiar challenges of global fisheries management and communicating science across disciplines. 

Navy Admiral on U.S. security

One thing that was made clear even after the first day was that it is important to remember that a situation is usually (if not always) more complex than it initially seems.  There is always another perspective or user group to consider when negotiating coastal resource management.  In some cases even within our own government, one party’s priorities may conflict with that of another.  This was evident after the discussion of ratifying the Law of the Sea, where it would make things a lot easier for the Navy and Coast Guard by clarifying U.S. jurisdiction (especially Arctic), but would in turn place a greater burden on litigators working within customary maritime law.  I do not pretend to fully grasp these issues, but it is a good reminder to tread lightly while we all navigate and gain confidence within these interconnected federal agencies. 

Dr. Lubchenco for the keynote

As I sat listening to various panelists, another thought began to take shape in my mind.  I have heard many people working within marine conservation and management express frustration about how often we hear repeated rhetoric and see the same frightening trends while nothing seems to change.  Many of my own mentors bemoan this same inertia on the scale of decades.  To those tending toward dissatisfaction or even downright depression, I tentatively offer some fuel for thought.  

First, everyone knows that repetition is a natural part of learning.  How many times do you have to listen to a song to know all the lyrics?  How many more times for Saturday night karaoke?  We might benefit from repetition as much as the general public in terms of keeping important issues at the forefront of our minds.  Second, to stave off frustration, we need only zoom out in time to gain a broader perspective.  In fifty years, we could look back on this era and remember it for halting ozone thinning, instituting marine spatial planning, commercialization of renewable energy, or fisheries quotas.  While efforts might be seen as “too little, too late” and will of course not resemble perfection, people in the 18^th century did not even believe in resource limitation.  Lastly, next time your eyes start glazing over at the sight of the latest powerpoint trend (one of the symptoms of oversaturation, along with indifference and severe drowsiness) challenge yourself to think about ways the information applies to your community or how you could best disseminate it.  See yourself as an active participant rather than a passive voice in the often-preached to choir.  

Taken together, repetition reminds us that we are part of slow change and that the country and global community have a diverse set of concerns in addition to conservation.  In saying these things and encouraging broader perspective and patience, I don’t mean to excuse some of the politics and greed that perpetuate bad subsidies, exporting pollution, or even climate inaction.  But those topics are outside the realm of Oceans Week and my expertise.  Needless to say, there were highlights of every CHOW session and lessons by all in attendance.  Big thanks to NOAA's Sanctuaries program for such a good show.  I welcome others to share their thoughts, highlights, or memories from favorite speakers.  

Heidi's Presentation to VIMS Board of Directors

Legislative fellow (and mom-to-be) Heidi presented to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Board of Directors the tools she learned as a Ph.D. student there that prepared her for her fellowship.

To find out how field research in Antarctica is like working on Capitol Hill check out the video, and then scroll down for more tidbits on the other VA fellows...

Misconceptions and Complexity: Listing Endangered Species

Recent stories in the news and in various nonprofit blog articles have compelled me to articulate my thoughts on protecting endangered species and the power of communication.  After working diligently day after day to understand how my coworkers are involved in the many stages of listing a species under the Endangered Species Act, I was admittedly crestfallen when I learned from Oceana that the government “failed, again” to protect sea turtles from harm.  What concerns me here is that federal agencies’ work in this arena is negatively portrayed to the public by conservation organizations.  This is an example of the how agencies, organizations, and the media interact nowadays.  In short, why do we highlight shortcomings where we could instead support one another by promoting success stories?    

After I got over my immediate disappointment, the article helped me realize a few things.  First, that it is very easy to grossly oversimplify and confuse any policy process.  And naturally, we can’t appreciate what we don’t understand.  In this case, even other conservation organizations do not fully grasp the complexity and time-intensive process of protecting a species.   (Petitions are received and reviewed, NOAA or USFWS drafts decision documents, public comments are reviewed, changes are made, and then the decision is reviewed by agency, policy, and budget leadership).  The whole process can last a year (often longer), largely due to the number of people, programs, and departments that must approve the action, not to mention the transparency and evidence demanded at each step of the way.  What Oceana was in fact writing about was NOAA’s announcement that they are simply taking more time to sort through disagreement between the managing agencies about the actual data underlying the decision.

Endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

Second, not only is resource protection necessarily time-consuming, but it is carried out and furthered by people, not agencies.  It is your neighbor, your aunt, your best friend, and the suit and tie that sits beside you on the metro that coordinate and drive these efforts.  Would you really say to any one of them that they had “failed”?   Along the same lines, the burden of conservation does not fall solely on government.  Federal agencies are responsible for implementing a set of diverse (and sometimes conflicting) policies that are put into place by Congress.  If and when a species is listed as endangered, it only becomes illegal to harm it.  For turtles, this means that a lot of other people and actions have to fall into place before populations receive a reprieve and can begin to recover.  The same is true for marshlands, forests, coral reefs, birds, and controversial species such as salmon or bluefin tuna: laws pave the way for stewardship, but it is people who take action one way or another.   So, I would argue that it is far more complex than government “failing” a species.

In light of the current budget climate where the funding for these activities is naturally outpaced by the demand, it seems that we are in need of a more innovative and productive communication strategy.  Rather than pointing a finger at top-down failure and further hindering the process with costly lawsuits, perhaps nonprofit organizations could find ways of bolstering public support and understanding from the ground up.  While the presence of watchdogs such as Oceana is important, it certainly seems that the power of communication within the media can and should be used to spread word about all of the hard work that often successfully gives rise to more efficient resource management. 

In the spirit of this post, I would welcome (constructive) comments to any of the above issues, because from what I’ve learned about resource management – there’s always a second opinion.  

Celebrating World Oceans Day

On June 8th of every year, ocean supporters all over the world come together within their communities to celebrate our relationship to the seas around us in honor of World Oceans Day.  This year, countless people and organizations worked to show the public how much we use the ocean and its products each and every day.  Whether it is from the foods we eat, various toiletries we use, products imported from abroad, getting peace of mind on the beach, and even down to the very air we breath, we owe the ocean some serious appreciation!  Originally proposed by Canada at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, the day was officially recognized by the U.N. three years ago in 2008 and we have been celebrating every year since. 


As you might imagine, our nation's capital was an excellent place to celebrate the occasion.  As a highly engaged community, Washington naturally made this day into a whole week of festivities.  Knauss fellows volunteered at Surfrider clean-ups on the Potomac, attended Smithsonian lectures including "Demystifying Sea Food" and "The Last Wild Places," and lined up at the Dept. of Commerce headquarters for the much anticipated NOAA Fish Fry.  This latter event indeed drew quite a crowd.  Hungry fellows were joined by NOAA employees and guests for an evening of sampling delicious seafood, enjoying live music, and making new friends.  Vendors came from all over the country to show off their morsels and it was nearly impossible to see and taste it all.  Many fellows debated about favorites, but the Gulf of Mexico shrimp and grits was among the most popular.  At the end of the evening, everyone was smiling, steamed in the summer heat, and stuffed to the brim.

Of course, World Oceans Day wasn't only fun and frivolity.  Leaders and decision-makers also gathered near the Capitol for a four day symposium to highlight research, policy, and outreach at the forefront of ocean management.  But more to come on that later.  At the end of the week, I was excited about all the new things I had learned but also a bit sad because I wish we could celebrate our oceans all year long - I know I do!  Check out the events that happened in your state (or country) as part of this years theme, "Youth: The Next Wave for Change" and make sure to put World Oceans Day on your calendar for next year!

Knauss Brown Bag June 16th: Turtles!

Ask Andy all about these cute creatures!

It's Turtle Day in our ongoing lunch time Brown Bag seminar series!  This Thursday, we'll hear from two more Sea Grant fellows who are eager to share their graduate research with the NOAA community.  First, Andy Coleman (U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard) will tell us about his work on the Biology and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin in Alabama salt marshes.  Second, we'll hear all about how Katrina Phillips (Communications Office, NOAA OAR) has helped unlock the mysteries of loggerhead sea turtle nesting and offshore foraging through the use of satellite tagging.  

Ask Katrina what all these little dots are!

Come on over to the NOAA Central Library at noon to hear these guys wow us with their expertise on these species that are important to the southeast and Gulf of Mexico areas. Contact the Brown Bag Committee or view the NOAA Seminar Page for remote access information.




Looking forward to seeing everyone there!