MPA's and OMG Whales!

25^th ICCB: Marine Think Tank

Second Day of the Conference – Dec. 3^rd

Start

            Got up at 5:30 AM today, friggin jet lag and rap music by my early rising neighbor next door.  Headed out to the conference at 8:00 AM and acted as a runner by guiding people to rooms, which resulted in me getting to my conference about thirty minutes late.

Session: Pelagic Ecosystems and MPA Management

My session group

            Mostly just conjecture today for the most part.  We have a specific MPA we’re looking to create and plan for – 100,000 km², no-take, remote, and an oceanic/pelagic ecosystem – with the objective of maintaining the natural value of the area.  To start, we identified the major threat to the area as fishing.  To combat this threat we needed to track regional information on fisheries such as shark fishing and track users.  In addition, a baseline needs to be set to establish site characterization and monitor changes from the baseline; this process would be aided by a historical baseline.  Key habitats and species should be identified as well as biodiversity levels and ecosystems types within the reserve. 

Once the background information has been established, that’s when you start coming up with an action plan for your endangered species, vital ecosystems, how to protect key areas, combat threats, and work to involve the community and gain the trust of the fishermen so that the project will be maintained after the managers leave.  You will leave sites eventually, it is only the rare obsessed scientist that adopts a site and makes it home permanently and they get added to the “Experts Hall,” meaning they have no life outside of that site.

            Need to make sure that there is continual surveys and scientific information coming in from this site.  Also, when conservation measures are taken, you MUST follow-up and see what resulting changes have taken place from the new rules.  One way to keep this up is through existing efforts, getting various interest groups involved, get the locals to monitor it, attach the project to a university department, and set-up a volunteer program for fledging marine biologists.  Hey!  You need experience when you’re first getting started.  You will get to travel and go to sites unvisited by the general public, but you’ll pay to do it and have only the basic necessities, if that sometimes. 

            If marine mammals are present, then it would be good idea to detect sound and somehow deter speedesters from potentially running over the dolphins.  Marine mammals can serve as measures as to how well the marine reserve conservation are work as the return and increase of apex predators is an indication of a healthy ecosystem.  Benefits may also be quantified through improved species population levels, biodiversity, size and catch of key species, etc. but all of these measures must be tempered by a realistic timeframe.  This can be made easier with specific control sites for comparison.  Essentially, there is a lot of detailed information that must be considered when designing and implementing an MPA, no matter what type it is.  You can benefit from talking with people who work on MPAs and general research, but the only true way to know what you’re dealing with is to be able to handle any issues that will arise and carry on with the project.  The ocean is an unknown variable even in the simplest of experiments and an MPA means trying to account for every variable in that section of the ocean.  Best you can do is to come up with a basic plan and be ready to MacGyver your way through.
           Aside, when attempting to plug in my computer to the adapter socket I got a nice electric shock, my first actually.  It hurts!  My teeth hurt!  My finger hurts!  Never ever want to know what lightening feels like.

            In terms of enforcing the rules of the MPA, you’re going to have to factor in things like cost (money isn’t going to be found on the sea floor in sunken ships) and what you’re exactly going to enforce.  You’ll need you to establish channels of communication and make sure the community supports the enforcement otherwise you won’t get anywhere.  Locals’ support is the single greatest thing you will need to ensure having for a MPA to work.  Vessel monitoring is also an expensive alternative but it allows you know the location of every boat and its activity. 

Afternoon Activity

Auckland City

            I elected to go out on the Auckland Whale and Dolphin Watch rather than attend the afternoon portion of the conference.  Saw not only Common Dolphins and at least 5-7 Bryde’s whales, but there was a mother-calf Humpback whale pair!  We saw flipper slapping, breaching (body, tail, head, full), twisting, ½ tail in the air, and so many more behaviors with baby copying Mom every step of the way.  There is a more detailed posting with pictures.

  The Common dolphins were tiny, angular, and adorable and the best bow riders ever!  So I am gushing, deal.  I got into this field because I love what I am studying, the knowledge and science are both just icing on top of a strawberry angle cake.  Commons were amazing to watch, they followed and swam in the wake of the boat for over 20 minutes.  

 Bryde’s whales acted pretty similar to the Sei whale I watched on in Mass. but it did display open mouth feeding and lunged up with a gaping mouth full of fish.  Very nice, no pics though.  

 We also got to check out some bait balls or roll-ups, where schools of fish are driven to the surface by predators.  Sea birds were going nuts dive bombing these poor fish!

           The marine mammals were all sighted by tracking associated sea birds that follow the whales and cetaceans to find food.  Awesome and very interesting technique.  Just goes to show you that you need to get out and travel because you learn so many different things in different parts of the world.  Everyone does the same things differently and what works one place may not work elsewhere but then again it may and you would never know until you try.  Lost my sunglasses as well which wasn't too great.

            On whale watching, questions never to ask that are asked without fail every time:

·       Where is the place to see dolphins on the boat?

o   Anywhere, sit anywhere.  Just not inside.

·       Can I feed the dolphins?

o   No, no, no, no.  Even if they say yes, still no!

·       Can I pet the dolphins?

o   Sure if you want a disease or to get bitten.  No!

Questions to ask:

·       What types of marine mammals will I see today?

·       What kind of fish do they eat?

·       What is the sea state today?

Best advice I can give you: take sea sickness medication before you get on a boat even if you never get sick, especially if you have never been on a boat or are from Asia – not trying to be racist because without fail on every trip I have worked on or been on those from India, Japan, China, Korea, etc. have always gotten sick.  Save yourself and the crew the misery and just take the ginger tablet so you can enjoy your trip and your poor naturalist isn’t cleaning up puke. 

Evening

            Well, I rushed back in wet shorts (ugh) to put everything online because I was so excited.  Took hours!  Oh well.  Got a text from a friend to meet-up and go out dancing.  Was wide awake from all of the excitement so I freshened up and headed out.  Got to see the new convention center for the Rugby world cup, the new downtown on water, the X-mas display, and much more.  The X-mas display has tons of beanbags at its base where you can crash and relax all evening – so cool!  No way would it happen in the States, it would be destroyed.  Hit up four different clubs ranging from hip-hop to techno, very good range and a nice walk.  But man, Auckland wakes up at night!  People just get started at midnight, I was beat at 11 PM but it was a nice change of pace and to see another face of the city.  Headed to bed after a good night of dancing on the waterfront.