Ocean Foundation

APPLYING SOCIAL RESEARCH TO BUILD ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN PROTECTING OCEAN RESOURCES

THIS AWARD WILL SUPPORT SETTING UP THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED MARINE DEBRIS FOUNDATION.

THIS PROJECT OF THE OREGON KELP ALLIANCE (ORKA) WILL INVOLVE A WIDE-RANGING COASTAL SNAPSHOT OF OREGON'S KELP FOREST HABITATS TO INFORM MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION, AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES. THESE IMPORTANT HABITATS HAVE NOT BEEN AERIALLY SURVEYED SINCE 2011, AND MANY HAVE UNDERGONE SIGNI CANT CHANGES IN RECENT YEARS DUE TO WARMING OCEANS, LOSS OF PREDATORS, AND POPULATION BOOMS OF PURPLE SEA URCHINS, WHICH GRAZE ON KELP. NO COAST-WIDE SUBTIDAL SURVEY OF OREGON'S KELP FORESTS HAS EVER BEEN COMPLETED. THE RECENT WIDESPREAD LOSS OF KELP FORESTS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS DRAWN ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM IN OREGON AND THIS PROJECT INTENDS TO ADDRESS THIS NEED. SEVERAL MEMBERS AND PARTNERS OF THE OREGON KELP ALLIANCE ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION, AND RESTORATION EFFORTS THAT WILL BE INFORMED BY THESE DATA. WE WILL USE A MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO GATHER THESE DATA, INCLUDING BOTH AERIAL SURVEYS USING AERIAL DRONES, UNDERWATER SCUBA SURVEYS OF KELP FORESTS, AND RO

PURPOSE: SINCE 2011 THE CARIBBEAN HAS SEEN A RAPID INCREASE IN BROWN TIDE EVENTS, WHERE LARGE MATS OF SARGASSUM INUNDATE COASTAL AREAS. PRELIMINARY DATA COLLECTED BY CARICOOS SUGGESTS THAT SARGASSUM INUNDATION EVENTS MAY CAUSE DRAMATIC CHANGES IN CARBONATE CHEMISTRY SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO AFFECT REEF AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH. DESPITE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN OCEAN ACIDIFICATION MONITORING OVER THE PAST DECADE, MONITORING OF CARBONATE CHEMISTRY IN THE US CARIBBEAN REMAINS EXTREMELY LIMITED. MANY OF THE FIXED BUOYS IN THE CARIBBEAN DO NOT MEASURE THE BIOGEOCHEMICAL VARIABLES NEEDED TO CAPTURE CHANGES IN WATER CHEMISTRY SUCH AS OXYGEN, CO2, AND PH. IN ADDITION, EXISTING BUOYS ARE IN AREAS OF HIGH WAVE ENERGY, WHERE SOME EXTREME EVENTS (E.G. SARGASSUM INUNDATION) DO NOT OCCUR. DUE TO THE HIGH COST AND COMPLEXITY OF CONDUCTING CARBONATE CHEMISTRY ANALYSIS MOST MARINE LABORATORIES IN THE CARIBBEAN DO NOT HAVE THE INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED TO CONDUCT SUCH ANALYSES. THIS LACK OF MONITORING HAS RESULTED IN GAPS IN UNDERSTANDING OF NEARSHORE CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY DURING SHORT-LIVED, HIGHLY IMPACTFUL EVENTS SUCH AS SARGASSUM INUNDATION, WHICH CAN THREATEN LOCAL SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEMS, INCLUDING CORAL REEFS. AS SUCH, THERE IS A NEED TO ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS PORTABLE AND PRODUCES HIGH-QUALITY DATA BY DEFINED OCEAN CARBONATE CHEMISTRY STANDARDS. THIS ALLOWS THE LOCAL AND BROADER OCEAN OBSERVING COMMUNITY TO RAPIDLY ASSESS SENSITIVE AREAS WHEN AND WHERE OBSERVATIONS ARE NEEDED MOST. THE OCEAN FOUNDATION (TOF), THROUGH ITS EQUISEA INITIATIVE, HAS LED INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE COST AND COMPLEXITY OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION MONITORING. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GLOBAL OCEAN ACIDIFICATION OBSERVING NETWORK (GOA-ON) AND ACADEMIC LEADERS, TOF CREATED GOA-ON IN A BOX - A SUITE OF MONITORING EQUIPMENT THAT ENABLES USERS TO COLLECT WEATHER QUALITY OCEAN ACIDIFICATION DATA PER GOA-ONS REQUIREMENTS. THIS SYSTEM IS HIGHLY MODULAR, MADE OF MANY CONSTITUENT PARTS, TO ENABLE EASY DIAGNOSIS OF ISSUES, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR. THE OCEAN FOUNDATION WILL SOON REACH A MILESTONE OF DEPLOYING 22 OF THESE SYSTEMS TO 17 COUNTRIES, WHICH HAS ESTABLISHED OBSERVATION PROGRAMS AT GOVERNMENTAL MINISTRIES, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, AND NONPROFITS. YET, THE SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN LEVERAGED TO ADVANCE OBSERVATIONS IN DATA-LIMITED REGIONS OF US WATERS, LEADING TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFINE THE PROCESS AND MEET THESE NEEDS. LIKELY DUE TO THE LENGTHY PROCESS OF PROCURING EACH INDIVIDUAL COMPONENT OF THE SYSTEM. THE OCEAN FOUNDATION IS THE ONLY INSTITUTION TO DATE THAT HAS PURCHASED AND SHIPPED YSTEMS. OTHER INSTITUTIONS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO AND THEN HANDED THE PROCESS OFF TO THE OCEAN FOUNDATION DUE TO COMPLEXITY. TOF HAS PARTNERED WITH DR. BURKE HALES OF DAKUNALYTICS TO CREATE A NEW TOOL FOR LOW COST MONITORING OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION, INITIALIZING DEVELOPMENT IN 2020. THE PCO TO GO IS A LOW-COST HANDHELD SENSOR THAT MEASURES SEAWATER PCO USING A NON-DISPERSIVE INFRARED (NDIR) SENSOR WITH AN UNCERTAINTY OF 15 PPM AFTER CORRECTION AND CALIBRATION. THE SENSOR IS MADE OF OFF-THE-SHELF COMPONENTS THAT CAN BE SUBSTITUTED IF A SUPPLIER CEASES MAKING A PARTICULAR ITEM, ENABLING A PREDICTABLE SUPPLY CHAIN. THE SENSOR PROVIDES MORE RELEVANT CARBONATE CHEMISTRY DATA FROM BOTH SURFACE AND SUB-SURFACE DISCRETE SAMPLES THAN CURRENT SIMILARLY PRICED HANDHELD PH SENSORS ON THE MARKET. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THIS SYSTEM HAS COMPLETED DEMONSTRATION TESTING IN HATCHERY AND FIELD SETTINGS (RL 6), BUT IT IS NOT YET COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE. THOUGH THE FIELD COMPONENTS OF THIS PROJECT ARE FOCUSED ON CHARACTERIZING THE EMERGING THREAT OF SARGASSUM INUNDATION, THE PCO TO GO SENSOR HAS SIGNIFICANT APPLICATIONS IN AQUACULTURE SETTINGS AND IN THE MAINTENANCE OF EXPERIMENTAL CARBONATE CHEMISTRY CONDITIONS. AS SUCH THE FINAL DESIGN AND OPERATIONALIZING OF THE SENSOR WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT USES BY ADDITIONAL SECTORS, INCLUDING AQUACULTURE AND BIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTATION. THE PROJECT PARTNERS PROPOSE TO BUILD OFF T

BUILDING LONG TERM RESILIENCE TO OCEAN ACIDIFICATION IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL TRAINING HUB

PURPOSE: THE OCEAN FOUNDATION WILL IMPLEMENT LARGE SCALE IMPACTFUL REMOVALS OF LOST OR ABANDONED DERELICT FISHING GEAR WITH LOCAL COASTAL FISHING COMMUNITIES. DURING THE 4-YEAR PROJECT DURATION A TOTAL OF 200 REMOVALS WILL REMOVE AN ESTIMATED 160,000 LBS OF DEBRIS FROM THE SEA FLOOR. AS PART OF THE PREVENTION STRATEGY TO REDUCE DERELICT FISHING GEAR, OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES WILL BE DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL FISHERS AND DNER RANGERS AS A MAJOR OUTREACH AND EDUCATION COMPONENT COUPLED WITH AN ALTERNATIVE INNOVATIVE DISPOSAL METHOD. A FISHING GEAR (TRAPS) TRADE-IN PROGRAM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN COORDINATION WITH LEGAL TRAP REGULATION EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH TO PREVENT AND DETER THE USE OF ILLEGAL FISHING TRAPS AND THE REACCUMULATION OF MARINE DEBRIS INTO THE FUTURE. LASTLY, AN ALTERNATIVE DISPOSAL METHOD FOR ILLEGAL FISHING GEAR WILL BE PILOTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RECICLAJE DEL NORTE INC. AND EL MUSEO DEL RECICLAJE TO CREATE MARINE DEBRIS INTO RECYCLED PLASTIC PELLETS AND BEGIN THE VENTURE INTO THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR PLASTICS IN THE US CARIBBEAN.

OCEAN FOUNDATION MANGROVE RESTORATION IN SALINAS PUERTO RICO EARMARK PROJECT DESCRIPTION: THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) IS PROVIDING $802,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO THE OCEAN FOUNDATION FOR THE RESTORATION OF MANGROVES IN SALINAS PUERTO RICO. SPECIFICALLY, THE OCEAN FOUNDATION WILL USE THESE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HYDROLOGICAL, TOPOGRAPHIC, AND BIOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIVITIES FOR 221 ACRES OF MANGROVES AT TWO SITES IN THE JOBOS BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE (JBNERR). THE FIELDWORK WILL BE LED BY A CONSULTANT, MERELLO MARINE CONSULTING, LLC, WHO WILL HIRE AND TRAIN PUERTO RICAN LABORERS TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE CHANNEL CREATION AND DREDGING, CULVERT MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING, MANGROVE DISPERSAL CENTER CONSTRUCTION, MANGROVE NURSERY CULTIVATION AND PLANTING, AND PROJECT MONITORING. IN ADDITION, TOF AND ITS PARTNERS WILL WORK WITH THE RESERVE ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENTS, AND RESTORATION MONITORING (PRE-, DURING, AND POST-RESTORATION). THE OCEAN FOUNDATION WILL SERVE AS THE OVERALL PROJECT MANAGER, INCLUDING PROCUREMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, REPORTING, AND DIRECTOR OF DRONE-RELATED ACTIVITIES. THE AWARD WILL SUPPORT PERSONNEL, FRINGE, AND TRAVEL FOR TOF STAFF, AS WELL AS SUPPLIES FOR RESTORATION AND MONITORING, A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT WITH MERELLO MARINE CONSULTING, AND INDIRECT COSTS. IN THE LONG-TERM, THIS PROJECT IS ANTICIPATED TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO HURRICANE-RELATED WIND AND FLOOD PROTECTION FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES INCLUDING THE PREPA AGUIRRE POWER COMPLEX, A 1,534 MW OIL-FIRED THERMOELECTRIC POWER FACILITY THAT PROVIDES A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE ENTIRE ISLAND'S ELECTRICAL GENERATING CAPACITY. THIS POWER-GENERATING ASSET DIRECTLY BORDERS JBNERR AND IS NOW FAR MORE EXPOSED TO HURRICANE-RELATED STORM SURGES AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS DUE TO THE SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF HEALTHY MANGROVE COVERAGE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. WE ANTICIPATE THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED FISHERIES AND MIGRATORY BIRD HABITATS IN THE INTERVENTION AREAS. OVERALL, THIS MANGROVE R/R EFFORT, THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND EVER ATTEMPTED IN THE UNITED STATES, WILL CONTRIBUTE TO BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE THAT WILL CATALYZE ADDITIONAL LARGE-SCALE COASTAL RESILIENCE PROJECTS VIA KNOWLEDGE SHARING, ON-THE-GROUND TRAINING, AND EXPANDED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES.

CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS: DEVELOPING AMERICA'S ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS INTO CENTERS FOR LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION

ENHANCING CAPACITY FOR OCEAN ACIDFICATION MONITORING AND MITIGATION IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (OAMM)

THE OCEAN FOUNDATION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE LARGEST MANGROVE HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT EVER UNDERTAKEN IN PUERTO RICO. MEMBERS FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES OF SALINAS, AGUIRRE, AND GUAYAMA WILL WORK ALONGSIDE TECHNICAL EXPERTS TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN RESTORATION AND MONITORING IN THE JOBOS BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE. THE LOSS OF HEALTHY MANGROVES IN THIS AREA HAS EXPOSED IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS A POWER PLANT, SOLAR FARM, AND EVACUATION ROUTE TO DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE-RELATED WINDS AND FLOODING.

ESTABLISHMENT OF ACHIEVE ACADEMY FOR ADULTS WITH AUTISM

SPNWR SEA TURTLE RECOVERY

COLLECTING SEA TURTLE GENETIC SAMPLES TO CONTRIBUTE TO CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND IMPROVE STOCK ASSESSMENTS AND STATUS REVIEWS

THIS WORK REFINES THE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY EVALUATION (MSE) FRAMEWORK BY IMPROVING NATURAL MORTALITY ESTIMATES AND REDUCING STOCK MOVEMENT UNCERTAINTIES. THE RECIPIENT WILL ACHIEVE THIS BY DEPLOYING 100 NEW ELECTRONIC TAGS, UPDATING OUR BAYESIAN MARK-RECAPTURE MODELS WITH AGE, STOCK-OF-ORIGIN, AND SEX DATA, AND USING GENOMICS TO IDENTIFY STOCK AND SEX FOR TAGGED FISH. ALL PROCESSED DATA WILL SUPPORT NOAA AND ICCAT'S MANAGEMENT EFFORTS.

SANDY POINT NWR IS CRITICAL NESTING HABITAT FOR THREE FEDERALLY PROTECTED SEA TURTLE SPECIES, THE LEATHERBACK, GREEN AND HAWKSBILL SEA TURTLE THE LEATHERBACK RECOVERY PROGRAM BEGAN ON SANDY POINT WITH MONITORING AND TAGGING EFFORTS IN 1977, LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LONGEST CONTINOUSLY OPERATED LEATHERBACK RESEARCH AND RECOVERY PROGRAM THIS LONG TERM RECOVERY EFFORT AND RESULTING DATA, AND RESEARCH ARE CRITICAL FOR SUPPORTING THE LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE POPULATION RECOVERY BY PROVIDING INFORMATION ON LIFE HISTORY TRAITS SUCH AS SURVIVAL, RECRUITMENT, HATCH SUCCESS, AGE TO MATURITY AND LONGEVITY THROUGH THIS PROJECT, THE OCEAN FOUNDATION IN COLLABORATION WITH SANDY POINT NWR STAFF, WILL INCREASE EFFORTS FOR RECORDING HAWKSBILL SEA TURTLE NESTS AND DOCUMENT EMERGENCES WITH THE GOAL OF ESTABLISHING SANDY POINT NWR AS AN IMPORTANT INDEX NESTING BEACH FOR THIS SPECIES EXTENDED DAY PATROLS, ASSESSING HATCH SUCCES, TRACKING PRODUCTIVITY ARE PART OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR THIS SPECIES, IN ADDITION TO RECORDING BIOMETRIC DATA TO COMPILE NESTING HISTORY AND COLLECTING GENETIC SAMPLES TO DETERMINE IF GREEN AND HAWKSBILLS SEA TURTLES IN THE CARIBBEAN ARE UNIQUE POPULATIONS THE CONTIUEATION OF ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE MANAGEMENT, MONITORING, AND RESEARCH ON THE REFUGE IS ESSENTIAL TO BOTH THE MISSION OF THE REFUGE AND RECOVERY OF SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS WORLD WIDE

THE OCEAN FOUNDATION (TOF) REQUESTS 250,000 USD IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE OCEAN FOUNDATION AND NOAA TO BUILD BROAD SUPPORT FOR THE DECADE IN THE US FROM PHILANTHROPIC GROUPS, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT AND PROPOSAL ARE A) TO COLLECT GENETIC SAMPLES FROM SEA TURTLE NESTING POPULATIONS (INCLUDING LEATHERBACKS, GREENS, AND HAWKSBILLS) TO EXPAND COMPREHENSIVE BASELINE NESTING DATASETS TO DEFINE POPULATION BOUNDARIES, B) TO COMPILE EXISTING DATASETS FOR PREPARATION OF DETAILED ANALYSES SUCH AS ASSESSMENT OF BYCATCH, C) TO UPDATE OR DETERMINE POPULATION PARAMETERS SUCH AS AGE TO MATURITY, ADULT BREEDING SEX RATIOS AND MATING SYSTEMS, D) TO PROCESS EXISTING SAMPLES AND TO ADD THOSE DATA TO LONG-TERM DATASETS AND E) TO PUBLISH AND PRESENT THE FINDINGS IN THE PEER-REVIEWED LITERATURE FOR USE IN REGULARLY UPDATING SEA TURTLE STOCK ASSESSMENTS, THREATS IDENTIFICATION, AND POPULATION DYNAMICS.

THE PROPOSED WORK WILL CONTINUE THEIR E-TAG RESEARCH PROGRAM BY CONDUCTING ACOUSTIC, ARCHIVAL AND SATELLITE TAGGING, MOVEMENT ECOLOGY, GENETIC STOCK IDENTIFICATION AND FISHERIES MODELING.

THE PROPOSED WORK WILL CONTINUE THEIR E-TAG RESEARCH PROGRAM BY CONDUCTING ACOUSTIC, ARCHIVAL AND SATELLITE TAGGING, MOVEMENT ECOLOGY, GENETIC STOCK IDENTIFICATION AND FISHERIES MODELING. THE RECIPIENT WILL CONTINUE TAGGING AS PART OF THEIR NORMAL OPERATIONS AND NO GRANT FUNDING IS USED FOR THAT ACTIVITY.

USING ELECTRONIC TAGGING DATA, GENETIC STOCK OF ORIGIN AND MODELING TO IMPROVE ICCAT MANAGEMENT OF ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA

EXPANDING HAWKSBILL NESTING BEACH PROTECTION AND BYCATCH REDUCTION AT CRITICAL NESTING AND FORAGING SITES IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN.

ELECTRONIC TAGGING OF BLUEFIN TUNA: IMPROVING LIFE HISTORY ESTIMATES UTILIZED IN ICCAT MODELS

TRACKING THE MIGRATIONS, SPAWNING LOCATIONS, AND GENETIC ORIGIN OF BLUEFIN TUNA IN THE WEST ATLANTIC FISHERY

IMPROVING ESTIMATES OF NATURAL MORTALITY OF ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA WITH ELECTRONIC TAGS

6TH GRADE BIRD AND HABITAT STUDY AND 3RD GRADE EXPANSION

DERELICT FISHING GEAR REMOVAL IN THE US CARIBBEAN: LARGE SCALE REMOVAL AND CAPACITY BUILDING

THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT AND PROPOSAL ARE A) TO COLLECT GENETIC SAMPLES FROM SEA TURTLE NESTING POPULATIONS (INCLUDING LEATHERBACKS, GREENS, AND HAWKSBILLS) TO EXPAND COMPREHENSIVE BASELINE NESTING DATASETS TO DEFINE POPULATION BOUNDARIES, B) TO COMPILE EXISTING DATASETS FOR PREPARATION OF DETAILED ANALYSES SUCH AS ASSESSMENT OF BYCATCH, C) TO UPDATE OR DETERMINE POPULATION PARAMETERS SUCH AS AGE TO MATURITY, ADULT BREEDING SEX RATIOS AND MATING SYSTEMS, D) TO PROCESS EXISTING SAMPLES AND TO ADD THOSE DATA TO LONG-TERM DATASETS, E) TO SUPPORT GENETICS CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING BY BRINGING PARTICIPANTS FROM KEY AREAS (INDONESIA AND MEXICO) TO SHARE DATA AND SKILLS AND F) TO CONTRIBUTE THE FINDINGS FOR PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES FOR USE IN REGULARLY UPDATING SEA TURTLE STOCK ASSESSMENTS, THREATS IDENTIFICATION, AND POPULATION DYNAMICS.

TUNA ACOUSTICS AND IMPROVING ACCESS TO AND USE OF OCEAN OBSERVATIONS FROM ANIMAL BORNE SENSORS

SUPPORTING REGIONAL HAWKSBILL RECOVERY IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN: RE-INVIGORATING THE ICAPONETWORK AND SUSTAINING SIX TOP-TIER NESTING BEACH CONSE

THE OCEAN FOUNDATION

ELECTRONIC TAGGING OF ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA

ELECTRONIC TAGGING OF ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA THAT SPAWN IN THE GULF OF MEXICO

PROJECT SYNOPSIS: COLLECTING SEA TURTLE GENETIC SAMPLES TO CONTRIBUTE TO CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND IMPROVE STOCK ASSESSMENTS AND STATUS REVIEWS SEA TURTLES ARE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF HEALTHY OCEAN AND CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS AS PREDATORS, PREY, AND AS ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS, DISTRIBUTING NUTRIENTS ACROSS REEFS AND BEACHES. TO EFFECTIVELY ASSESS THE GLOBAL OR REGIONAL STATUS OF SEA TURTLES, IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND STOCK STRUCTURE, DELINEATE STOCK BOUNDARIES AND TO ASSESS POPULATION-SPECIFIC THREATS SUCH AS BYCATCH THAT MAY AFFECT POPULATIONS. THE BEST WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS IS TO USE GENETIC TECHNIQUES, AS THEY OFFER INSIGHTS INTO THE POPULATION THAT CANNOT BE GAINED IN ANY OTHER WAY. GENETIC ANALYSIS OF SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS HAS ALLOWED RESEARCHERS TO DELINEATE STOCKS GLOBALLY, LEADING TO UPDATED RECOVERY PLANS SPECIFIC TO PARTICULAR COUNTRIES AND TO INFORM DESIGNATIONS BY THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN) SO THEY CAN UPDATE RED LIST SPECIE

THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO PARTNER WITH OAP TO BOLSTER PROGRAMMATIC AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT SUPPORT OF GOA-ON'S PIER2PEER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS, 20 SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE AWARDED AND ADMINISTERED. THE OCEAN FOUNDATION PROPOSES TO: 1. OVERSEE THE GRANT ADMINISTRATION CYCLE FOR AT LEAST TWENTY PIER2PEER SCHOLARSHIPS TO MENTOR-MENTEE PAIRS. 2. ONGOINGLY ASSESS TO ADVANCE THE APPROACHES THROUGH WHICH THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORTS RESEARCHERS WHO CAN MOST BENEFIT FROM IT.

GREENLAND ECOTOURISM ACTIVITY

ESTABLISHING THE OPERATIONAL CAPACITY OF THE ANIMAL TELEMETRY NETWORK DATA ASSEMBLY CENTER

ADVANCING A MILTIFACETED APPROACH TO RECOVER HAWKSBILLS IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC: PROTECTING MAJOR NESTING BEACHES AND REDUCING EXTENSIVE BYCATCH AT CR

APHRICA PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

DESIGNING A FRAMEWORK FOR AN OCEAN ACIDIFICATION VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT IN PUERTO RICO THROUGH STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS, SCIENCE SYNTHESIS, AND A REGIONAL WORKSHOP

A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO RECOVERY OF HAWKSBILL TURTLES IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC: PROTECTING ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING NESTING STRONGHOLDS AND SPEARH

GENETIC POPULATION STRUCTURE OF ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA: EXAMINING EVIDENCE FOR SUBDIVISION WITHIN THE GULF OF MEXICO

ADVANCES IN ELECTRONIC TAGGING (E-TAGS) AND GENOMICS OFFER NEW INSIGHTS INTO UNDERSTANDING THE LIFE HISTORY OF ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA (ABT) POPULATIONS IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC AND ADJACENT SEAS. DESPITE THE RAPID ADVANCES IN RESEARCH IN THIS FIELD, KEY QUESTIONS REMAIN. KNOWING THE NUMBER OF POPULATIONS, THEIR BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS, AND THE SPATIAL BOUNDARIES OVER WHICH ABT FISHERY POPULATIONS INTERACT HAS FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS FOR SPECIES MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION. CURRENT ABT FISHERIES MODELS ARE HINDERED BY THE LACK OF CONSENSUS ON THE NUMBER OF ABT POPULATIONS, THEIR MIGRATORY PATTERNS, AND THE LEVEL OF MIXING ON FORAGING AND SPAWNING GROUNDS. MANAGEMENT MODELS ARE HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE SPATIAL MIXING OF POPULATIONS, AND ESTIMATIONS OF SURVIVORSHIP AND RECRUITMENT. HERE, WE PROPOSE TO USE ACOUSTIC AND SATELLITE TAGGING OF ABT TO ASSIGN STOCK SPECIFIC MORTALITY ESTIMATES, MAP STOCK-SPECIFIC SPATIAL-TEMPORAL MOVEMENTS AT HIGH RESOLUTION IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC, A

ORGANIZE FOUR WORKSHOPS TO BRING TOGETHER INUIT STAKEHOLDERS, SCIENTISTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS TO CREATE STEM LEARNING TOOLS.

THIS PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A NEXT-GENERATION STOCK ASSESSMENT MODEL FOR ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA THAT MAY ALSO BE USED AS AN OPERATING MODEL FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY EVALUATION (MSE) FRAMEWORKS.

EVALUATING BLUEFIN HARVEST STRATEGIES THAT USE GENETIC MARK-RECAPTURE DATA

THIS PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A NEXT-GENERATION STOCK ASSESSMENT MODEL FOR ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA THAT MAY ALSO BE USED AS AN OPERATING MODEL FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY EVALUATION (MSE) FRAMEWORKS.

HAWAIIAN HAWKSBILL TURTLES (ERETMOCHELYS IMBRICATA) REPRESENT ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ENDANGERED SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS AND A RECENT STUDY INDICATED THAT AN AVERAGE OF ONLY 14 NESTING FEMALES AND 48 NESTS ARE DOCUMENTED ACROSS THE ARCHIPELAGO EACH YEAR. NONETHELESS, THE STUDY WAS LARGELY DEPENDENT ON DATA COLLECTED FROM HAWAI'I ISLAND AND RECENT MONITORING CARRIED OUT IN 2018 AND 2021 AT HALAWA BEACH PARK ON MOLOKA'I ISLAND SUGGEST THE SITE MIGHT BE THE SINGLE-MOST IMPORTANT HAWKSBILL NESTING BEACH IN THE STATE OF HAWAI'I. THIS THREE-YEAR PROPOSAL SEEKS TO IMPROVE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AT HALAWA DURING THE 2022-2025 NESTING SEASONS WITH A FOCUS ON SOLIDIFYING THE PROJECT'S INITIAL SUCCESSES AND INITIATING NEW, HIGH-PRIORITY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES INCLUDING NIGHT MONITORING TO IDENTIFY AND QUANTIFY NESTING FEMALES, AS WELL AS POST-HATCHING NEST EXCAVATIONS TO CONFIRM NESTS, CALCULATE HATCHING SUCCESS, AND MAXIMIZE HATCHLING SURVIVAL. COMBINED, THESE ACTIVITIES WILL GENERATE URGENTLY NEEDED D

DEVELOPING POUND NET ESCAPE DEVICES (PEDS) TO REDUCE JAPANESE LOGGERHEAD BYCATCH

OCEAN CONNECTORS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WILL IMPLEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AS A PRIORITY PUBLIC USE OF THE SAN DIEGO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES. THESE PROGRAMS AIM TO ENHANCE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE AND FAMILIARITY AMONG COMMUNITIES ADJACENT TO THE REFUGES. ACTIVITIES AND LESSONS FROM TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE INCLUDING FIELD TRIPS TO THE SWEETWATER MARSH AND SOUTH SAN DIEGO BAY UNITS OF THE SAN DIEGO BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT INTRODUCTORY AND SKILL BUILDING OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES. APPROXIMATELY 6000 NATIONAL CITY STUDENTS INCLUDING 600 EIGHTH GRADERS AND 600 SIXTH GRADERS WILL ENGAGE IN HANDS ON LEARNING AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AS PART OF OCEAN CONNECTORS MULTIYEAR EDUCATION PROGRAM

STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITIES TO CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY MANAGE SHARKS IN WEST AFRICA

PARTICIPANTS ARE ENGAGED IN HANDS ON STEM ACTIVITIES OUTDOOR LEARNING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AT THE SWEETWATER MARSH REFUGE WHALE WATCHING BIRD WATCHING AND HABITAT RESTORATION AT THE SAN DIEGO REFUGE AND VISITS TO SWEETWATER CHANNEL WHERE STUDENTS HELP MITIGATE POLLUTION LITTER AND INVASIVE PLANT IMPACTS THROUGH THE RECREATION OF HIGH QUALITY COASTAL SAGE SCRUB WETLAND AND STREAM CORRIDOR HABITATS

ADVANCING HAWKSBILL RECOVERY IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN THROUGH PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION IN EL SALVADOR

PROJECT TITLE NOT PROVIDED

CONSERVATION OF THE JAPANESE-NESTING LOGGERHEAD TURTLE: MORTALITY ASSESSMENT AND CONSERVATION OUTREACH AT THE BCS M XICO JUVENILE FORAGING AREA.

HAWKSBILL CONSERVATION AND LOCAL EMPOWERMENT IN EL SALVADOR

THE MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION FUND IS SOLICITING PROPOSALS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF MARINE TURTLES (CHELONIA MYDAS, CARETTA CARETTA, DERMOCHELYS CORIACEA, ERETMOCHELYS IMBRICATA, LEPIDOCHELYS OLIVACEA, LEPIDOCHELYS KEMPII) THROUGHOUT THEIR RANGE OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ITS TERRITORIES. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ENACTED THE MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION ACT (MTCA) OF 2004 IN RESPONSE TO THE DECLINE OF MANY MARINE TURTLE POPULATIONS WORLDWIDE AND THE SERIOUS THREATS TO THEIR LONG-TERM SURVIVAL. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ACT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR PROJECTS THAT CONSERVE NESTING POPULATIONS AND HABITAT AND ADDRESS OTHER THREATS TO THE SURVIVAL OF MARINE TURTLES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE THREATS TO MARINE TURTLES IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT. PROPOSALS SHOULD IDENTIFY SPECIFIC CONSERVATION ACTIONS THAT HAVE A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF CREATING LASTING BENEFITS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES THAT EMPHASIZE DATA COLLECTION AND STATUS ASSESSMENT SHOULD DESCRIBE A DIRECT LINK TO MANAGEMENT ACTION, AND EXPLAIN HOW LACK OF INFORMATION HAS BEEN A KEY LIMITING FACTOR FOR MANAGEMENT ACTION IN THE PAST. PROPOSALS THAT DO NOT IDENTIFY HOW ACTIONS WILL REDUCE THREATS OR THAT DO NOT DEMONSTRATE A STRONG LINK BETWEEN DATA COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT ACTION WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. PROPOSED PROJECT WORK SHOULD OCCUR WITHIN THE SPECIES RANGE, OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. IF WORK IS TO BE CONDUCTED OUTSIDE OF THE SPECIES RANGE, THE PROPOSAL SHOULD SHOW A CLEAR RELEVANCE TO ITS CONSERVATION.

VITAL SUPPORT FOR HAWKSBILLS IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN: YEAR IV OF CONSERVATION AT TOP-TIER NESTING BEACHES

REDUCING THREATS AND SUSTAING HAWSBILL TURTLE CONSERVATION IN EL SALVADOR

PHASE IV OF ICAPO'S REGIONAL ACTIVITIES:PROTECTING TOP TIER HAWKSBILL NESTING BEACHES IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN

VITAL SUPPORT FOR HAWKSBILLS IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN;YEAR II OF CONSERVATION AT FOUR TOP-TIER NESTING BEACHES.

IMPLEMENTATION OF INTEGRATED CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR JAPANESE NESTING POP. OF LOGGERHEAD TURTLE

VITAL SUPPORT FOR HAWKSBILLS IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN: YEAR III OF CONSERVATION AT FIVE TOP-TIER NESTING BEACHES.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IMPLEMENT A CONSERVATION PROGRAM THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE RECOVERY OF THE EAST PACIFIC HAWKSBILL POPULATION, THE SMALLEST AND MOST ENDANGERED HAWKSBILL NESTING POPULATION IN THE WORLD WITH FEWER THAN 700 NESTING FEMALES. THE INTENT OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY BASED NESTING BEACH CONSERVATION PROJECTS ON FOUR OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NESTING BEACHES IN EL SALVADOR AND ECUADOR. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE; 1) COMMUNITY BASED PATROLS TO DETER ILLEGAL POACHING OF NESTING FEMALES AND EGGS AND COUNTING OF NESTS TO MONITOR POPULATION TRENDS AT LOS COBANOS AND PUNTA AMAPALA, EL SALVADOR AND MACHALILLA AND EL PELADO IN ECUADOR, AND 2) RELOCATION OF NESTS THREATENED BY POACHING OR TIDAL INUNDATION TO SAFE BEACH HATCHERIES.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT

CONSERVATION OF THE JAPANESE- NESTING LOGGERHEAD TURTLE: MORTALITY ASSESSMENT AND OUTREACH AT THE BC

ALISO ESTUARY RESTORATION PROJECT

CONSERVATION OF JAPANESE NESTING LOGGERHEAD TURTLE:MORTALITY ASSESSMENT AND CONSERVTION OUTREACH AT THE BCS MEXICO JUVENILE FORAGING AREA.

CONSOLIDATING VITAL HAWKSBILL TURTLE MONITORING AT HALAWA, MOLOKAI; ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HAWKSBILL NESTING SITES IN HAWAII.

CONSERVATION OF THE JAPANESE-NESTING LOGGERHEAD TURTLE: MORTALITY ASSESSMENT AND OUTREACH AT THE BCS MEXICO JUVENILE FORAGING AREA

CONSERVATION OF THE JAPANESE NESTING LOGGERHEAD TURTLE: MORTALITY ASSESSMENT AND OUTREACH AT THE BCS MEXICO JUVENILE FORAGING AREA

PROJECT ABSTRACT:BIG OCEAN SEEKS SUPPORT TO GROW AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AND AMONGST LSMPA SITES AND MANAGERS, LEVERAGE LESSONS LEARNED TO INCREASE BEST-PRACTICE MANAGEMENT RESOURCES, AND TO AMPLIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GENRE AS A TOOL FOR NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OCEAN PROTECTION AND GOVERNANCE AS WE NAVIGATE TOWARDS THE GLOBAL CONSERVATION TARGETS OF 20 X 2030.STATEMENT OF NEED:ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF LARGE-SCALE MARINE PROTECTED (AND MANAGED) AREAS (LSMPA) SITES AND MANAGERS IS CRITICAL, NOW MORE THAN EVER. AS VAST MARINE MANAGED AREAS CAN ACT AS SENTINEL SITES THE INCREASED IMPACTS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE, MANAGEMENT TEAMS CAN FACILITATE THE RELATIONSHIPS AND RESEARCH NECESSARY TO PROVIDE A BASELINE FOR WHAT BIOPHYSICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE STRATEGIES MUST SEEK TO MATCH AND EXCEED WORLDWIDE. BEST-PRACTICE MANAGEMENT IS THE REQUISITE FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE THESE VAST MARINE PROTECTED AREAS, AND THE COUNTRIES AND COMMUNITIES INEXTRICABLY TIED TO THEM, ARE VIABLE FOR THE LONG TERM.ONE MIGHT SUGGEST THAT MPAS BROADLY ARE IMPORTANT BUT VAST MPAS PROVIDE UNIQUE BENEFITS AND ARE ULTIMATELY THE FOUNDATION OF GLOBAL OCEAN PROTECTION. AT PRESENT THERE ARE CLOSE TO 17,000 MPAS OF ALL SIZES, SCALES, AND LEVELS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND PROTECTION. HOWEVER, 73% OF CURRENT GLOBAL MARINE PROTECTION COMES FROM THE 41 ESTABLISHED AND IMPLEMENTED LSMPAS THAT ARE E 100,000 KM2. THAT MEANS ALL 18 MEMBER SITES OF BIG OCEAN, PLUS SEVERAL SITES BEING SUPPORTED BY THE BLUE NATURE ALLIANCE AND ITS PARTNERS. ADDITIONALLY, OF THESE SITES, ONLY THREE HAVE MANAGEMENT PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS; CONSIDERING MOST SITES WERE ESTABLISHED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE NEED FOR BEST-PRACTICE RESOURCES FOR MANAGERS AND STAKEHOLDERS AND RIGHTS-HOLDERS IS VITAL IF THE WORLD HOPES TO EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS TO HUMANITY THAT LSMPAS CAN HELP TO PROVIDE.

THE OCEAN FOUNDATION-OCEAN CONNECTORS PROGRAM CROSSES BORDERS AND CULTURAL BOUNDARIES LINKING STUDENTS FROM SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA TO STUDENTS LIVING

WHILE STUDYING TWO OF CALIFORNIA'S MIGRATING AQUATIC SPECIES, THE ENDANGERED GREEN SEA TURTLES AND THE GREY WHALES, PRO PENINSULA OCEAN CONNECTORS: C