Presentation to the Caribbean Fishery Management Council April 11, 2012 Lia Ortiz

1. Outreach and Education USVI Style:Virgin Islands Territorial Fishery Stakeholder Engagement Initiative (VITFSEI) Presentation to the Caribbean Fishery Management Council April 11, 2012 Lia Ortiz NOAA CRCP Contractor USVI Liaison

2. Marine and Fisheries Resources Management & Conservation Global problem Local action

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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)

6. 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

7. Virgin Islands Territorial Fisheries Stakeholder Engagement Initiative (VITFSEI) • Fishing community representatives • Non-governmental Organizations • Academia • Resource Management Agencies

8. VITFSEI is one shared vision USVI marine environment and fishing community around for generations to come

9. VITFSEI formed in response to… Community Interest! • USVI Local Action Strategies USVI’s Coral Reef Management Priorities NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program’s Domestic Goals and Objectives 2010-2015

10. 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

11. The USVI Community Regulators, Scientists, Supporters

12. VITFSEI tiered process Quantifying gaps VITFSEI Addressing Gaps

13. 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

14. Deliverables Timeline • Newsletter-Post Phase II • Phase I and II Proceedings • Scientific articles-Bi-annual • Bi-annual highlight of • accomplishments • Phase I: 6 months • Phase II: 6 months • Phase III: 6 months • First Cycle: • January 2013-July 2014

15. Long Live VITFSEI! Sustaining Biannual Cycle

16. 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

17. CFMC Outreach and Education Plan for the USVI • Developing a framework: MECAP VITFSEI Ideal world!

18. CFMC Outreach and Education Plan for the USVI • Developing a framework: Other efforts MECAP VITFSEI System changes Reality

19. 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

20. 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)

21. USVI’s Coral Reef Management Priorities http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/strategy/reprioritization/managementpriorities/resources/usvi_mngmnt_clr.pdf • 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 NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program’s Domestic Goals and Objectives 2010-2015 http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/strategy/currentgoals/resources/3threats_go.pdf

22. 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