Posts

Sea Tales @ the Museum

 

The St. Kitts and Nevis’ marine environment was the focus of the St. Christopher National Trust Dasani-Harper’s Heritage House Children’s Storytelling Series “SEA TALES”.

The St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network’s Dr. Kimberley Stewart shared a Caribbean based story about the danger plastic creates for the turtles especially the Leatherback Turtle that nest within the Keys Beach area within the St. Kitts’ St. Mary Man and the Biophere.

The Sea Life Sea SKN project through the Anjolique Dance Company (ADC) partnered with the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to present SKN ‘Sea Kingdom’. The vivid costumes depicting the marine creatures within the St. Kitts and Nevis Marine Management Area and surrounding areas, were from ADC.

The Department of Marine Resources Marine Management Areas and Habitat Monitoring Officer Tricia Greaux accompanied by the Beach and Marine Conservation Officers; Tasia Jones, Ahisha Herbert, Ashadi Duncan, Sasha Kodi Edwards, Luciano Eddy and Locksley Edwards.

The SEA-MAZINGLY animated session featured the; Queen Triggerfish (locally known as Ole Wife), Octopus, Princess Parrotfish (Locally known as Thumb), Rainbow Runner (ocean pelagic/ deep sea fish species), and Lionfish (an alien/ invasive fish, not native to the Caribbean Sea).

 

 

 

 

 

/by

Knowledge to Action – Management Effectiveness

BIOPAMA (Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management) and University of the West Indies hosted a Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) workshop in the Bougainvillea Conference Room at the Bay Gardens Hotel, Rodney Bay Village,  St. Lucia from the 25 – 28 June, 2018. The theme for this workshop was “From knowledge to action for a protected planet.” St. Kitts was represented at this IUCN workshop by Luciano Eddy – Beach Conservation Officer at the Department of Marine Resources alongside the representative for Nevis, Ryan Khadou – Statistical Officer, Statistics Department, Nevis Island Administration. (BIOPAMA) hosted this workshop in support of their aims to improve the long-term conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, in protected areas and surrounding communities. It is an initiative of the ACP Group of States financed by the European Union’s 11th European Development Fund (EDF), jointly implemented in the Caribbean by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC) and the University of the West Indies.

Day one (1) of this 3 day workshop, the official opening began with welcome remarks that was given by Hyacinth Armstrong-Vaughn – Protected Areas Officer, BIOPAMA Programme followed by a review of the workshop’s agenda and objectives. Jose Courrau and Marc Hockings (IUCN) presented an overview of the Management Effectiveness Framework.

Day two (2) of this workshop consisted of a review of the last day results of the group work and this was discussed between the participants and the Protected Areas Officer, BIOPAMA Programme – Hyacinth Armstrong-Vaughn. There was an introduction to the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas and the implementation of the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas in the world done by Marc Hockings (IUCN). He outlined the history of the Green list, the importance, etc. The IUCN (GLPCA) Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas Programme (IUCN Green List Programme) aims to encourage, achieve, and promote effective, equitable and successful protected areas in all partner countries and jurisdictions.

On day (3) a field visit to the Pitons Management Area.

The Key components of the PMA include:

▪Pitons                                                            ▪ Nature Trails

▪Sulphur Springs                                         ▪ Endemic Species

▪Botanical Gardens                                     ▪ Unique dive and snorkel sites

▪Waterfalls

This field visit was a moment to test Green List Indicators to see if they were applicable to the PA’s in the participating countries of this workshop.

/by

Protected Areas & Conservation Management Training

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) sponsored Conserving Biodiversity Project in St. Kitts and Nevis hosted in collaboration with the Department of Environment, St. Kitts the Protected Areas & Conservation Management Training from April 16-25, 2018.

Marine Conservation Officers; Locksley Edwards, Ahisha Herbert and Ashadi Duncan, Beach Conservation Officers; Luciano Eddy and Sasha (Kodi) Edwards, and Boat Captain and Conservation Officer; Conse Skeete participated in this training. These individuals are stationed at the Department of Marine Resources (DMR).

Facilitation of the training was done by Global Parks representatives; Kathy Chopik, Brion Fitzgerald and Doug Konkin. Local experts including; Thema Ward- Department of Physical Planning and Environment, Diannille Taylor-Williams- Ministry of Tourism and Dr. Kimberly Stewart- St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network presented at this training.

This training had three deliverables:

  • Interview staff to determine current skills and knowledge, goals for future training (capacity needs assessment)
  • Based on the interviews and previous work, prepare and deliver a dedicated training program
  • Create a capacity development plan for the overall effective management of the PA’s and conservation areas.

 

Protected Areas, Conservation, Management and staff capacity needs assessment activities included a wide range of priority training areas that were covered:

  • Protected areas planning processes and tools
  • Business and financial planning
  • Conservation and management of biodiversity and ecosystem
  • UN conservation commitments
  • Ecological monitoring and data collection
  • Use of decision-making support tools and database management tools
  • Synergies between ecotourism development and protected areas management
  • Building partnerships and network
  • EIA reports review

Some of the challenges that were recognized and assessed were

  • Lack of public communication of the work of the Park Rangers
  • The need for effective communication with the public
  • Lack of equipment necessary to complete the jobs/tasks effectively
  • Effective organizational communications
  • Lack of training opportunities
  • Lack of enforcement to support daily job completion

The training outcome was prioritization exercises of the training needs linking to the performance expectations in the job description and department mandates.

 

/by

DMR @ Career Exhibition with Work, Eat, Play, Manage themed display

The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) was invited  to participate in  the 2018 National College, Career and Health EXPO organised by the Ministry of Labour on Friday 23rd February, 2018.  The DMR’ s display centered around the different uses of the ocean.

WORK – career based choices were showcased through presentations and officers present answering questions about their being employed within the marine field.

EAT – highlighted the benefits of a healthy sea enriched diet. Promoting the Eat It 2 Beat It SKN Lion fish campaign as well as introducing persons to underutilized species such as the Diamond Back Squid.

PLAY – recreational activities associated with the marine environment. Attendees did a “sea /bucket list challenge” checking off which play sports they have engaged in and were offered new and exciting #DiveIn choices for the future.

MANAGE – sustainably using the resources of the marine environment is key to the DMR. This section explored compliance and enforcement mechanisms conducted by the DMR and future work, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Resources Act 2016 legislation, Implementation of the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Plan and the declaration of the St. Kitts and Nevis Marine Management Area.

The Director, Marc Williams expressed ” We are pleased that the Ministry of Labour has created such a forum for persons to be educated about different career options. Within the past year we have received requests to have interested youth visit the DMR to get a sense of what a career within the marine field is about. At the DMR we want to encourage persons to see the ocean as the true resource that it is and take full advantage of it. ”

The DMR also used this opportunity to launch its partnership with the Anjolique Dance Company’s GEF UNDP Small Grant Proposal See Life Sea SKN project- a visual campaign about the marine environment. The display incorporated the use of high impact presentations through imagery and hands on experience. Unfortunately, the display should have incorporate touch tanks into the display however as climate change affects the marine environment , turbidity in the water prevented the collection of the marine species.

Officers at the exhibition included; Marine Management Area (MMA) and Habitat Monitoring Officer ; Tricia Greaux, Fisheries Assistant; Kharim Saddler, Marine Conservation Officers ;Locksley Edwards , Tasia Jones, Ahisha Herbert and Ashadi Duncan,  and Beach Conservation Officers; Luciano Eddy and Sasha Kodi Edwards.

 

 

 

 

/by

Promoting One Health/Ocean Health

The Department of Marine Resources staff and Marine/ Beach Conservation Officers participated in the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine’s (RUSVM) second annual One Health celebration. Interestingly to note that while last year’s celebration was only held for one day it was extended this year to a week-long event. The RUSVM One Health events are part of an International One Health Campaign. Locally, this event included a variety of lectures, a symposium and Friday fair/exhibition. This year’s theme was on Marine/Ocean Health.

RUSVM extended invitations to outside entities like the Department of Marine Resources, Christophe Harbor Marina, Department of Environment, St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network and St. Kitts and Nevis Aquaculture Pilot Project and Environmental Research (SNAPPER) participated in the One Health/ Ocean Health Symposium on Thursday night. Other presentations included RUSVM Professors and personal Jane Harrington, Raouf Kilada, Anna Becker and Michelle Dennis.  Remarks were given by Lee Willingham and Sean Callanan. Friday’s Fair and Exhibition featured a number of different student groups as well as the Department of Marine Resources and Department of Environment showcasing a holistic and integrated approach to health- One Health/Ocean Health.

RUSVM Symposium presenters Sara Ramirez, Tricia Greaux and Cheryl Jeffers.

One Health/Ocean Health Friday Fair presenters Tricia Greaux, Luciano Eddy, Ashadi Duncan, Locksley Edwards, Ahisha Herbert and Tasia Jones.

 

One Health Day is an international campaign coordinated by the One Health Commission, the One Health Initiative Autonomous pro bono Team and the One Health Platform Foundation. The goal of One Health Day is to bring attention around the world to the need for One Health interactions and for the world to ‘see them in action’. The One Health Day campaign is designed to engage as many individuals as possible from as many arenas as possible in One Health education and awareness events, and to generate an inspiring array of projects worldwide.

/by