Tracing Coral Reefs: A Citizen Science Approach in Mapping Coral Reefs to Enhance Marine Park Management Strategies
Effective marine park management and protection of coral reefs can only happen if managers have adequate knowledge of reef health and area. However, obtaining such information is labor intensive and difficult with limited funding and time. Reef Check Malaysia was engaged by Department of Marine Park...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2019.00539/full |
| _version_ | 1819080218427523072 |
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| author | Chai Ming Lau Abdul Adzis Kee-Alfian Yang Amri Affendi Julian Hyde Alvin Chelliah Alvin Chelliah Yun Sing Leong Yin Lee Low Putri Asma Megat Yusop Ven Thye Leong A. Mohd Halimi Yaman Mohd Shahir R. Mohd Ramdhan Ai Gaik Lim Noor Ikhwanie Zainal |
| author_facet | Chai Ming Lau Abdul Adzis Kee-Alfian Yang Amri Affendi Julian Hyde Alvin Chelliah Alvin Chelliah Yun Sing Leong Yin Lee Low Putri Asma Megat Yusop Ven Thye Leong A. Mohd Halimi Yaman Mohd Shahir R. Mohd Ramdhan Ai Gaik Lim Noor Ikhwanie Zainal |
| author_sort | Chai Ming Lau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Effective marine park management and protection of coral reefs can only happen if managers have adequate knowledge of reef health and area. However, obtaining such information is labor intensive and difficult with limited funding and time. Reef Check Malaysia was engaged by Department of Marine Parks Malaysia to map the coral reefs surrounding Tioman Island Marine Park and document health status and site specific threats. To achieve this, we utilized the Reef Check survey method, a simple, rapid and holistic standardized reef monitoring protocol based on scientific principles. This method is suitable where funds and time are limited. A total of 95 sites surrounding Tioman Island were surveyed with the assistance of certified Reef Check EcoDiver volunteers and representatives from local stakeholders. This citizen science approach proved successful and generated a baseline map revealing a difference in the health of coral reefs between the west and east sides of Tioman Island, where the West had <25% live coral cover as compared to >50% on the East. Combined with data on indicator fish and invertebrates, as well as human and natural impacts, the results suggest that Tioman Island should be separated into three distinctive conservation priority zones to enhance management strategies of this marine park. This is an example of an innovative way to engage and involve local stakeholders in planning conservation and management strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:41:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f80fbb26d60347ecbd0509286b8ba4c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:41:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-f80fbb26d60347ecbd0509286b8ba4c42022-12-21T18:52:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452019-09-01610.3389/fmars.2019.00539457363Tracing Coral Reefs: A Citizen Science Approach in Mapping Coral Reefs to Enhance Marine Park Management StrategiesChai Ming Lau0Abdul Adzis Kee-Alfian1Yang Amri Affendi2Julian Hyde3Alvin Chelliah4Alvin Chelliah5Yun Sing Leong6Yin Lee Low7Putri Asma Megat Yusop8Ven Thye Leong9A. Mohd Halimi10Yaman Mohd Shahir11R. Mohd Ramdhan12Ai Gaik Lim13Noor Ikhwanie Zainal14Reef Check Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaSEAlutions Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaInstitute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaReef Check Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaReef Check Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaTioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG), Reef Check Malaysia, Kuala Rompin, MalaysiaReef Check Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaReef Check Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaInstitute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, MalaysiaReef Check Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaTioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG), Reef Check Malaysia, Kuala Rompin, MalaysiaTioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG), Reef Check Malaysia, Kuala Rompin, MalaysiaB&J Diving Centre, Kuala Rompin, MalaysiaDepartment of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Putrajaya, MalaysiaDepartment of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Putrajaya, MalaysiaEffective marine park management and protection of coral reefs can only happen if managers have adequate knowledge of reef health and area. However, obtaining such information is labor intensive and difficult with limited funding and time. Reef Check Malaysia was engaged by Department of Marine Parks Malaysia to map the coral reefs surrounding Tioman Island Marine Park and document health status and site specific threats. To achieve this, we utilized the Reef Check survey method, a simple, rapid and holistic standardized reef monitoring protocol based on scientific principles. This method is suitable where funds and time are limited. A total of 95 sites surrounding Tioman Island were surveyed with the assistance of certified Reef Check EcoDiver volunteers and representatives from local stakeholders. This citizen science approach proved successful and generated a baseline map revealing a difference in the health of coral reefs between the west and east sides of Tioman Island, where the West had <25% live coral cover as compared to >50% on the East. Combined with data on indicator fish and invertebrates, as well as human and natural impacts, the results suggest that Tioman Island should be separated into three distinctive conservation priority zones to enhance management strategies of this marine park. This is an example of an innovative way to engage and involve local stakeholders in planning conservation and management strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2019.00539/fullcitizen sciencemarine protected area managementreef checkcoral reef mappinggeographic information system |
| spellingShingle | Chai Ming Lau Abdul Adzis Kee-Alfian Yang Amri Affendi Julian Hyde Alvin Chelliah Alvin Chelliah Yun Sing Leong Yin Lee Low Putri Asma Megat Yusop Ven Thye Leong A. Mohd Halimi Yaman Mohd Shahir R. Mohd Ramdhan Ai Gaik Lim Noor Ikhwanie Zainal Tracing Coral Reefs: A Citizen Science Approach in Mapping Coral Reefs to Enhance Marine Park Management Strategies Frontiers in Marine Science citizen science marine protected area management reef check coral reef mapping geographic information system |
| title | Tracing Coral Reefs: A Citizen Science Approach in Mapping Coral Reefs to Enhance Marine Park Management Strategies |
| title_full | Tracing Coral Reefs: A Citizen Science Approach in Mapping Coral Reefs to Enhance Marine Park Management Strategies |
| title_fullStr | Tracing Coral Reefs: A Citizen Science Approach in Mapping Coral Reefs to Enhance Marine Park Management Strategies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tracing Coral Reefs: A Citizen Science Approach in Mapping Coral Reefs to Enhance Marine Park Management Strategies |
| title_short | Tracing Coral Reefs: A Citizen Science Approach in Mapping Coral Reefs to Enhance Marine Park Management Strategies |
| title_sort | tracing coral reefs a citizen science approach in mapping coral reefs to enhance marine park management strategies |
| topic | citizen science marine protected area management reef check coral reef mapping geographic information system |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2019.00539/full |
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