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

1. Characterizing harmful behaviors of divers and snorkelers to coral reefs in Puerto Rico Dr. Thomas Webler Karin Jakubowski Social and Environmental Research Institute July 25, 2012

2. 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

3. 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

4. Recreational Misuse Scuba Snorkeling Recreational harvesting Suffocation Mechanical breakage Infection

5. 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

6. 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)EstudiosTécnicos Inc., 2007 • No Data on recr. misuse 80% 60% 40% 20% Source: WRI Blue=LOW, Yellow=MED, Red=HIGH, DkRed = VERYHIGH

7. La Cordillera Tres Palmas Culebra Taino Wall Margarita Caja de Muertos

8. Study Site: Reef Locations in the East La Cordillera Nature Reserve Icacos Lobos Diablo Palomino Palominito Culebra: Tamarindo Grande

10. Data Collection Methodology • Permission of commercial vessel owner and captain • Unobtrusive observation • First in, last out • 5 minutes • Return trip survey of all passengers

11. Results: Baseline Data Divers Snorkelers August 2010 – February 2011 218 observations 1230 minutes 67% of observations lasted for 5 minutes 344 contacts were observed January 2011 – May 2011 121 observations 592 minutes 93% of observations lasted for 5 minutes 316 contacts were observed 0.53 contacts per minute 0.28 contacts per minute

12. Fin Kicks Majority of contacts for both divers and snorkelers 39 % of diver contacts 37% of snorkeler contacts

13. Siltation 21% of diver contacts 13% of snorkeler contacts

14. Hand Touches 18% of diver contacts 16% of snorkeler contacts

15. Body Brushes 11% of diver contacts 2% of snorkeler contacts

16. Equipment Contacts 11% of diver contacts

17. Touching Things 3% of diver contacts 5 % of snorkeler contacts

18. Picking up something 0.9% of diver contacts 6% of snorkeler contacts

19. Sitting, Kneeling or Standing 0.6% of dive contacts 19% of snorkeler contacts

20. Collecting 0% of diver contacts 2% of snorkeler contacts

21. Feeding Fish 0% of divers were observed feeding fish 3% of snorkelers observed feeding fish

22. Types of Behaviors Observed in Divers

23. Types of Behaviors Observed in Snorkelers

24. Summary of Results Diver and Snorkeler Contact Rates

25. Self Report Surveys

26. Self-Reports of Behaviors on Surveys Scuba divers under report their contacts by 7.3 times Snorkelers under report their contacts by 8.9 times

27. 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

28. Can we change people’s behavior?

29. Public Education • RinaHauptfeld – Tres Palmas • Education and outreach to local community • Public educational campaigns

31. Previous Messaging Efforts • NOAA paid for reef etiquette video by ZiggyLivnat • 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?

32. Strategic Messaging • Based on a theory of environmental behavior • Value-Belief-Norm theory • Developed by Paul Stern (NAS) in 1995 • Tested in numerous settings

33. Value Belief Norm Theory (Paul C. Stern) Behavior Norms Values Beliefs Attitudes Self-Direction Security Awareness of consequences Benevolence Acceptance of Responsibility Efficacy Actions Intention to Act Social Norms

34. Values Definitions • “Stable principles that help us make decisions when preferences come into conflict” (T. Dietz) • “Motivational beliefs” (S. Schwartz) 1. Self-Direction 2. Stimulation 3. Hedonism 4. Achievement 5. Power 6. Security 7. Conformity 8. Tradition 9. Benevolence 10. Universalism

35. 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

36. Value Belief Norm Theory (Paul C. Stern) Behavior Norms Values Beliefs Attitudes Self-Direction Security Awareness of consequences Benevolence Acceptance of Responsibility Efficacy Actions Intention to Act Social Norms

37. Play video here

38. Theory behind message design

39. 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

40. Treatment For Snorkelers • Pre-trip video • On boat pledge • Secretive observation • On-boat survey

41. Second Year Observations – SnorkelersJanuary 2012 – May 2012 No video or pledge Video and pledge 120 observations 552 minutes 78% of observations lasted for 5 minutes 19 Contacts were observed 0.034 per minute 110 observations 490 minutes 66% of observations lasted for 5 minutes • Contacts were observed 0.23 per minute

42. Mann-Whitney U Test (Comparing 2011 and 2012 control groups) Percentage of people No significant difference Contacts per minute per subject observed

43. Mann-Whitney U Test (Comparing all controls with treatment) 6.5 times lower reef contact frequency

44. % Who did not contact reef

45. Policy Implications

46. Relevance of Results for Policy Making • Local Action Strategies • Concessionaire Licensing Process • Boat Mooring Buoy Locations • Individual Business Owners • Marine Reserve Management

47. Policy Relevance • Visitor contact is one stressor facing reefs

48. Policy Relevance • Visitor contact is one stressor facing reefs • We need to manage all the stressors

49. Policy Relevance • Visitor contact is one stressor facing reefs • We need to manage all the stressors • Different stressors can be dominant at different reefs

50. 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