New Methods of Environmental Monitoring Time Lapse Video

New MethodsofEnvironmental MonitoringTime Lapse Video Thorne Abbott CoastalZone.com

Great Barrier ReefAustralia Whitsunday Islands

Hook Island Manta Ray Bay

Protected Anchorages Exceptional Water Clarity High Species Diversity Substantial Coral Coverage

Concerns over coral damage from anchoring diver fins contact by snorkelers Fish feeding Trash & refuse Water quality Mooring Availability Commercial interests wanted more Residents wanted less Overcrowding during water activities Concerns & Conflicts

Challenge . . . Design a monitoring system to balance conflicting uses and enhance decision-making for sustainable use

Camera wide angle lens polarizer zoom facility Processor Battery Re-charger Solar Panel Battery's Monitor Housing prospecs lens telescoping stand tripod head camera housing padlocks, security Laptop Computer Software Battery Monitor Equipment

Objectives Determine appropriate sampling strategies for video monitoring Analyze the resolution or clarity of the imagery produced Calibrate the validity of the data generated Determine if the results obtained can enhance decision making

Vessel Samples Vessels 172 samples 20 seconds each Number of Visitors "expected" Size Time Type Day Mooring Date

Visitor Samples Visitors 52 samples originally 20 seconds each Low Resolution VHS std Format High Resolution S-VHS Format Visitor Counts by 3 Observers Visitor Counts by 4 Observers Randomness 19 original samples 30 original samples 4 sub-samples per original 1, 2, or 3 sub-samples per original 19 @ 20 seconds 14 @ 20 seconds 19 @ 10 seconds 14 @ 10 seconds 19 @ 5 seconds 14 @ 5 seconds 19 @ 1 second 14 @ 1 second

Accuracy of Observers Estimatesof Visitor Activity VHS standard resolution S-VHS high resolution 100 80 60 Percentage Accuracy 40 20 0 1 5 10 20 Length of Recorded Sample (seconds)

C o m p a r i s o n o 1 . 0 . 9 . 8 . 7 . 6 . 5 . 4 . 3 . 2 . 1 . Effect of Resolution& Sample Length f V i s i t o r C o u n t s V H S s t d . t o S - V H S T a p e F o r m a t s P e r c e n t a g e O b s e r v e d t o E x p e c t e d d e v r e s b O e T a p e F o r m a t g a t n V H S s t d . e c r e S - V H S P 1 s e c o n d 5 s e c o n d s 1 0 s e c o n d s 2 0 s e c o n d s L e n g t h o f S a m p l e ( T I M E )

Methodology The Method of Monitoring can be consistent (Chi^2 : p>.05) accurate (>70%) HIGH resolution tape format samples 10 seconds or longer

SCUBA Diving N u m b e r o f S c u b a D i v e r s b y T i m e o f D a y 8 6 s r e v i D 4 f o r e 2 b m u N 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 5 : : : : : : : : 0 1 0 1 2 2 2 0 5 2 4 4 0 3 0 : : : : : : : 0 0 0 2 2 4 4 0 4 0 5 5 5 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 T I M E

Snorkeling N u m b e r o f S n o r k e l l e r s b y T i m e o f D a y 1 6 1 4 s ' R 1 2 E L L 1 0 E K R 8 O N 6 S f o 4 r e b m 2 u N 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 5 : : : : : : : : 0 1 1 2 2 : : 0 4 5 0 : : : 3 0 2 3 0 4 5 2 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 T I M E o f D a y

Visitor Patterns • Most activity takes place between • 10 AM and 4 PM • Scuba divers visit morning to mid-day • Snorkelers visit in the afternoon • Substantially more snorkelers than divers

Vessel Sizes at Moorings10 meter maximum by regulation V e s s e l S i z e s a t M o o r i n g s a l l V e s s e l s 1 6 1 4 1 2 1 0 s r e 8 t e m 6 n 4 i E Z 2 I S 0 N = 1 0 7 7 8 1 A B C N o t M o o r e d Q u e u i n g M O O R I N G

Mooring Times through the Day M o o r i n g I n c e p t i o n T i m e o f D a y a l l V e s s e l s 18 y a D . f 1 2 o E M I T 6 N = 1 0 7 7 8 1 A B C N o t M o o r e d Q u e u i n g M O O R I N G 6 = 6 : 0 0 A M 1 8 = 6 : 0 0 P M

Comparative Length of Stay120 minutes maximum by regulation C o m p a r i s o n o f A n c h o r a g e D u r a t i o n b y M o o r i n g a n d O w n e r T y p e 3 0 0 s e t u n i 2 0 0 m n i N O T Y P E 1 0 0 I T A C o m m e r c i a l R U D 0 P r i v a t e N = 6 4 3 4 2 5 3 5 1 A B C N o t M o o r e d Q u e u i n g M O O R I N G

Mooring Patterns • Vessels ranged from 3 m to 15 m long • Private vessel visit as often as commercial vessels, but commercial vessels stayed for twice as long • Vessels moored between 10 AM and 4 PM • Vessels arriving from 2–3 PM queued and didn’t moor • Vessels that moored, did so within 20 minutes • One mooring was used last, least, and for less than one hour

Recent Successful Applications • Time-lapse video monitoring of boat traffic in Missionary Bay • Establish Dugong movement patterns in the Hinchinbrook Channel, World Heritage Area and interactions with boat traffic. • 2500 samples collected to date

New Initiatives…The Managaha Marine Conservation Area Monitoring Vessel Traffic in the MPA and its Transportation Corridor

Adaptive Management in ActionWhat is being done… • Boundaries established, but waiting on regulations • Education and Outreach efforts using brochures, posted signs, newspapers, and school programs • Stakeholder helping in the development of rules, regulations, and management plans • Active - Passive Use areas, “use” permits • No anchoring and No Take Zones • Commercially dedicated moorings

Questions to be addressed by video monitoring • Are the MPA boundaries being ignored? • Are vessels using the transportation corridor? • What type of activities most often violate restrictions? • How should we change outreach, education, and enforcement activities?

Conclusion Time lapse video monitoring provides valuable real time data on patterns of use Managers can better judge if education, outreach, and enforcement activities are having their desired effect These activities can then be adapted to ensure the sustainability of marine resources

Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas DLNR, Division of Fish & Wildlife Joe Ruak, DFW Aquatic Education Specialist CRC Reef Research Centre Queensland Dept. of Environment & Heritage James Cook University Dept. of Tropical Environmental Studies & Geography Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Ray Berkelmans Graeme Inglis Acknowledgements

New Methods of Environmental Monitoring Time Lapse Video