Characterizing harmful behaviors of divers and snorkelers to coral reefs in Puerto Rico

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

twebler@seri-us.org

www.seri-us.org