I started diving 10 years ago and it was an experience which sparked a passion
an experience which sparked a passion
an experience which sparked a passion for the underwater world however it was
for the underwater world however it was
for the underwater world however it was only when I started talking to local
only when I started talking to local
only when I started talking to local community members many years later that
community members many years later that
community members many years later that I began to understand that connectivity
I began to understand that connectivity
I began to understand that connectivity between the ocean and the land or the
between the ocean and the land or the
between the ocean and the land or the people whether it was learning
people whether it was learning
people whether it was learning traditional octopus fishing techniques
traditional octopus fishing techniques
traditional octopus fishing techniques or surveying fish caches or interviewing
or surveying fish caches or interviewing
or surveying fish caches or interviewing community members about their
community members about their
community members about their experiences my interest in the ocean
experiences my interest in the ocean
experiences my interest in the ocean started to be joined by a fascination
started to be joined by a fascination
started to be joined by a fascination with that intersection between the
with that intersection between the
with that intersection between the environment and the people who rely on
environment and the people who rely on
environment and the people who rely on it for the ocean the land and the people
it for the ocean the land and the people
it for the ocean the land and the people are intimately connected and here on a
are intimately connected and here on a
are intimately connected and here on a saguaro is no different I came here to
saguaro is no different I came here to
saguaro is no different I came here to work in January this year and in my role
work in January this year and in my role
work in January this year and in my role as an educator scientist and
as an educator scientist and
as an educator scientist and conservationist my goal is to connect
conservationist my goal is to connect
conservationist my goal is to connect the dots between these interlinking
the dots between these interlinking
the dots between these interlinking issues as conservationists we’re often
issues as conservationists we’re often
issues as conservationists we’re often motivated to solve a particular
motivated to solve a particular
motivated to solve a particular environmental problem however I believe
environmental problem however I believe
environmental problem however I believe it’s only when we take a step back and
it’s only when we take a step back and
it’s only when we take a step back and take a more holistic approach that we
take a more holistic approach that we
take a more holistic approach that we can begin to succeed when I first came
can begin to succeed when I first came
can begin to succeed when I first came to Arturo I was struck by the natural
to Arturo I was struck by the natural
to Arturo I was struck by the natural beauty that surrounded me the diving is
beauty that surrounded me the diving is
beauty that surrounded me the diving is stunning and with some of the most
stunning and with some of the most
stunning and with some of the most biodiverse waters in the world that’s no
biodiverse waters in the world that’s no
biodiverse waters in the world that’s no surprise
surprise
surprise and that feeling has never left me as
and that feeling has never left me as
and that feeling has never left me as the seasons change I’m constantly
the seasons change I’m constantly
the seasons change I’m constantly surrounded by new beauty and I think my
surrounded by new beauty and I think my
surrounded by new beauty and I think my favorite so far has to have been the
favorite so far has to have been the
favorite so far has to have been the arrival of whale season but as I began
arrival of whale season but as I began
arrival of whale season but as I began to familiarize myself with our local
to familiarize myself with our local
to familiarize myself with our local reefs I couldn’t help but notice the
reefs I couldn’t help but notice the
reefs I couldn’t help but notice the lack of big fish on many reefs groupers
lack of big fish on many reefs groupers
lack of big fish on many reefs groupers and other large predators are few and
and other large predators are few and
and other large predators are few and far between
far between
far between these predators play an important role
these predators play an important role
these predators play an important role in regulating the ecosystem and fish
in regulating the ecosystem and fish
in regulating the ecosystem and fish which grow to a bigger size before being
which grow to a bigger size before being
which grow to a bigger size before being caught can produce far more offspring
caught can produce far more offspring
caught can produce far more offspring but as overfishing removes this top-end
but as overfishing removes this top-end
but as overfishing removes this top-end from the environment the impact on the
from the environment the impact on the
from the environment the impact on the ecosystem and the fish populations as a
ecosystem and the fish populations as a
ecosystem and the fish populations as a whole becomes greater which causes
whole becomes greater which causes
whole becomes greater which causes a decline in the fish stocks even
a decline in the fish stocks even
a decline in the fish stocks even further and unfortunately my impressions
further and unfortunately my impressions
further and unfortunately my impressions are consistent with Studies on the
are consistent with Studies on the
are consistent with Studies on the subject and the impressions of the local
subject and the impressions of the local
subject and the impressions of the local community as one person I spoke to said
community as one person I spoke to said
community as one person I spoke to said we don’t catch as many fish as before in
we don’t catch as many fish as before in
we don’t catch as many fish as before in the past you were lucky if you could eat
the past you were lucky if you could eat
the past you were lucky if you could eat all the fish you caught that day so from
all the fish you caught that day so from
all the fish you caught that day so from a conservation perspective this
a conservation perspective this
a conservation perspective this particular dot should be a relatively
particular dot should be a relatively
particular dot should be a relatively easy fix
easy fix
easy fix stop fishing the big fish but the
stop fishing the big fish but the
stop fishing the big fish but the reality is very very different as people
reality is very very different as people
reality is very very different as people here rely on fishing to put food on the
here rely on fishing to put food on the
here rely on fishing to put food on the table and provide for their children as
table and provide for their children as
table and provide for their children as my friend estêvão said the sea is our
my friend estêvão said the sea is our
my friend estêvão said the sea is our office we need to go to work every day
office we need to go to work every day
office we need to go to work every day and here on a Thoreau fish is a really
and here on a Thoreau fish is a really
and here on a Thoreau fish is a really important source of protein so a decline
important source of protein so a decline
important source of protein so a decline in fish stocks can have a direct
in fish stocks can have a direct
in fish stocks can have a direct influence on nutrition and in the face
influence on nutrition and in the face
influence on nutrition and in the face of concerns over food security
of concerns over food security
of concerns over food security specifically fish stocks it’s easy to
specifically fish stocks it’s easy to
specifically fish stocks it’s easy to get tunnel vision and think that the
get tunnel vision and think that the
get tunnel vision and think that the best way to solve this issue is to focus
best way to solve this issue is to focus
best way to solve this issue is to focus on the fish however in my experience
on the fish however in my experience
on the fish however in my experience top-down approaches like this which
top-down approaches like this which
top-down approaches like this which focus on one aspect of a complicated
focus on one aspect of a complicated
focus on one aspect of a complicated problem are doomed to failure it’s only
problem are doomed to failure it’s only
problem are doomed to failure it’s only when we take a bigger picture approach
when we take a bigger picture approach
when we take a bigger picture approach that we can begin to see results the
that we can begin to see results the
that we can begin to see results the thing that I have come to appreciate
thing that I have come to appreciate
thing that I have come to appreciate more more than anything else in my time
more more than anything else in my time
more more than anything else in my time here on a thorough row is the strong
here on a thorough row is the strong
here on a thorough row is the strong sense of community and family which
sense of community and family which
sense of community and family which binds everything together and I really
binds everything together and I really
binds everything together and I really believe it’s only when we take these
believe it’s only when we take these
believe it’s only when we take these values into consideration that we can
values into consideration that we can
values into consideration that we can begin to see tangible results from
begin to see tangible results from
begin to see tangible results from conservation and the growing number of
conservation and the growing number of
conservation and the growing number of Terrebonne do around the island are a
Terrebonne do around the island are a
Terrebonne do around the island are a sign of this trend in this particular
sign of this trend in this particular
sign of this trend in this particular context Terrebonne do are areas which
context Terrebonne do are areas which
context Terrebonne do are areas which have been designated as locally managed
have been designated as locally managed
have been designated as locally managed marine areas according to customary law
marine areas according to customary law
marine areas according to customary law as a friend Necker said having a
as a friend Necker said having a
as a friend Necker said having a Terrebonne do is important because I
Terrebonne do is important because I
Terrebonne do is important because I want my children and grandchildren to
want my children and grandchildren to
want my children and grandchildren to always have fish like I can see in the
always have fish like I can see in the
always have fish like I can see in the sea now I don’t want it to be lost in
sea now I don’t want it to be lost in
sea now I don’t want it to be lost in the future these laws are driven by the
the future these laws are driven by the
the future these laws are driven by the community rather than centralized
community rather than centralized
community rather than centralized government and other products of
government and other products of
government and other products of hundreds of years of tradition
hundreds of years of tradition
hundreds of years of tradition Terrebonne do our laws which are deeply
Terrebonne do our laws which are deeply
Terrebonne do our laws which are deeply rooted in family and community ties and
rooted in family and community ties and
rooted in family and community ties and they’re often taken in more serious
they’re often taken in more serious
they’re often taken in more serious please an official law disrupted during
please an official law disrupted during
please an official law disrupted during the conflict
the conflict
the conflict they’re now enjoying a resurgence and
they’re now enjoying a resurgence and
they’re now enjoying a resurgence and are increasingly being used for marine
are increasingly being used for marine
are increasingly being used for marine management they work because they are
management they work because they are
management they work because they are deeply rooted in the community’s values
deeply rooted in the community’s values
deeply rooted in the community’s values and they make sure everyone’s voice is
and they make sure everyone’s voice is
and they make sure everyone’s voice is heard however they require hard work
heard however they require hard work
heard however they require hard work dedication and sacrifice from the
dedication and sacrifice from the
dedication and sacrifice from the community in the short term in the words
community in the short term in the words
community in the short term in the words of Johnny he said we all want our
of Johnny he said we all want our
of Johnny he said we all want our boundary here but based on the culture
boundary here but based on the culture
boundary here but based on the culture from our ancestors we believe that it
from our ancestors we believe that it
from our ancestors we believe that it will be stronger if we do it in the
will be stronger if we do it in the
will be stronger if we do it in the proper way
proper way
proper way these fishermen are looking to the
these fishermen are looking to the
these fishermen are looking to the future as more and more Terrebonne do
future as more and more Terrebonne do
future as more and more Terrebonne do are added to the network of protected
are added to the network of protected
are added to the network of protected areas which surround this island as they
areas which surround this island as they
areas which surround this island as they set aside their fishing areas they’re
set aside their fishing areas they’re
set aside their fishing areas they’re looking for other options of how to
looking for other options of how to
looking for other options of how to provide for their children and that’s
provide for their children and that’s
provide for their children and that’s where alternative livelihoods come in
where alternative livelihoods come in
where alternative livelihoods come in the homestay Association here in Beloit
the homestay Association here in Beloit
the homestay Association here in Beloit is a great example eight families have
is a great example eight families have
is a great example eight families have opened their their homes to
opened their their homes to
opened their their homes to international volunteers and staff
international volunteers and staff
international volunteers and staff working with blue ventures this is an a
working with blue ventures this is an a
working with blue ventures this is an a business model they’d never used before
business model they’d never used before
business model they’d never used before and less than a year after they started
and less than a year after they started
and less than a year after they started the initiative they’re already reaping
the initiative they’re already reaping
the initiative they’re already reaping the rewards one member of the
the rewards one member of the
the rewards one member of the Association said that the main benefit
Association said that the main benefit
Association said that the main benefit of the homestay is that it allows us to
of the homestay is that it allows us to
of the homestay is that it allows us to take care of our family and all the
take care of our family and all the
take care of our family and all the income stays in the community I’ve been
income stays in the community I’ve been
income stays in the community I’ve been lucky enough to live with one such
lucky enough to live with one such
lucky enough to live with one such family during the last few months
family during the last few months
family during the last few months LOI through them I’ve been able to learn
LOI through them I’ve been able to learn
LOI through them I’ve been able to learn the Teton language settle into village
the Teton language settle into village
the Teton language settle into village life and find my feet in a place far
life and find my feet in a place far
life and find my feet in a place far away from home my tea Marie’s family
away from home my tea Marie’s family
away from home my tea Marie’s family have provided me with the amazing
have provided me with the amazing
have provided me with the amazing hospitality that’s one of this community
hospitality that’s one of this community
hospitality that’s one of this community strength and home stays are an excellent
strength and home stays are an excellent
strength and home stays are an excellent opportunity to create cultural exchange
opportunity to create cultural exchange
opportunity to create cultural exchange which benefits both the hosts and the
which benefits both the hosts and the
which benefits both the hosts and the guests one of the guests said that it
guests one of the guests said that it
guests one of the guests said that it was an eye-opening immersive experience
was an eye-opening immersive experience
was an eye-opening immersive experience that will be one of the main things he
that will be one of the main things he
that will be one of the main things he looks back on and along with the
looks back on and along with the
looks back on and along with the donations that snorkelers and divers
donations that snorkelers and divers
donations that snorkelers and divers make to the terre bandeau fund this
make to the terre bandeau fund this
make to the terre bandeau fund this homestay program is contributing to a
homestay program is contributing to a
homestay program is contributing to a growing nature based ecotourism industry
growing nature based ecotourism industry
growing nature based ecotourism industry on after laura research from Charles
on after laura research from Charles
on after laura research from Charles Darwin University shows that the
Darwin University shows that the
Darwin University shows that the communities of Arthur Oro strongly
communities of Arthur Oro strongly
communities of Arthur Oro strongly support the development
support the development
support the development of community-based ecotourism in the
of community-based ecotourism in the
of community-based ecotourism in the future however they believe that it
future however they believe that it
future however they believe that it should be in the hands of the local
should be in the hands of the local
should be in the hands of the local community and the hands of local NGOs
community and the hands of local NGOs
community and the hands of local NGOs and I firmly believe that it’s only that
and I firmly believe that it’s only that
and I firmly believe that it’s only that if it’s done on the communities terms
if it’s done on the communities terms
if it’s done on the communities terms then ecotourism could be a valuable tool
then ecotourism could be a valuable tool
then ecotourism could be a valuable tool to improve Community Development and
to improve Community Development and
to improve Community Development and economic security not only that but the
economic security not only that but the
economic security not only that but the benefits must go directly to the
benefits must go directly to the
benefits must go directly to the community rather than disappearing into
community rather than disappearing into
community rather than disappearing into the pockets of developers or investors
the pockets of developers or investors
the pockets of developers or investors from elsewhere and to find out what this
from elsewhere and to find out what this
from elsewhere and to find out what this could look like for them the homestay
could look like for them the homestay
could look like for them the homestay Association from Beloit went to visit
Association from Beloit went to visit
Association from Beloit went to visit the homestay Association in Raja Ampat
the homestay Association in Raja Ampat
the homestay Association in Raja Ampat Indonesia an inspirational experience
Indonesia an inspirational experience
Indonesia an inspirational experience which enabled them to see communities
which enabled them to see communities
which enabled them to see communities just like this one which are succeeding
just like this one which are succeeding
just like this one which are succeeding in running their own tourism businesses
in running their own tourism businesses
in running their own tourism businesses and after all learning from your peers
and after all learning from your peers
and after all learning from your peers is can provide a more powerful lesson
is can provide a more powerful lesson
is can provide a more powerful lesson than any classroom or training course
than any classroom or training course
than any classroom or training course estêvão said of the experience it was
estêvão said of the experience it was
estêvão said of the experience it was very important for us when the Raja
very important for us when the Raja
very important for us when the Raja Ampat Association told us that they
Ampat Association told us that they
Ampat Association told us that they started just like us with no support and
started just like us with no support and
started just like us with no support and now they have achieved this amazing
now they have achieved this amazing
now they have achieved this amazing success that inspires me to keep working
success that inspires me to keep working
success that inspires me to keep working so going back to our earlier dot what
so going back to our earlier dot what
so going back to our earlier dot what brought us to ecotourism was that it’s
brought us to ecotourism was that it’s
brought us to ecotourism was that it’s an alternative livelihood which enables
an alternative livelihood which enables
an alternative livelihood which enables us to pursue conservation strategies so
us to pursue conservation strategies so
us to pursue conservation strategies so that begs the question all those
that begs the question all those
that begs the question all those conservation strategies working are they
conservation strategies working are they
conservation strategies working are they having an impact and that’s where our
having an impact and that’s where our
having an impact and that’s where our international volunteers come in so
international volunteers come in so
international volunteers come in so during their time in Timor not only do
during their time in Timor not only do
during their time in Timor not only do they stay in the home stays but they
they stay in the home stays but they
they stay in the home stays but they also learn how to survey the coral reef
also learn how to survey the coral reef
also learn how to survey the coral reef and seagrass ecosystems of Arthur or
and seagrass ecosystems of Arthur or
and seagrass ecosystems of Arthur or they learn survey techniques which are
they learn survey techniques which are
they learn survey techniques which are designed to monitor changes in marine
designed to monitor changes in marine
designed to monitor changes in marine resources over time focusing on fish
resources over time focusing on fish
resources over time focusing on fish populations coral reef health
populations coral reef health
populations coral reef health biodiversity and bleaching amongst other
biodiversity and bleaching amongst other
biodiversity and bleaching amongst other things they survey inside and outside
things they survey inside and outside
things they survey inside and outside the Terra Bondi so we hope that we’ll be
the Terra Bondi so we hope that we’ll be
the Terra Bondi so we hope that we’ll be able to paint a picture of the impact
able to paint a picture of the impact
able to paint a picture of the impact that these refuges are having on the
that these refuges are having on the
that these refuges are having on the creatures living within their boundaries
creatures living within their boundaries
creatures living within their boundaries and by combining the scientific data
and by combining the scientific data
and by combining the scientific data with local experience and knowledge we
with local experience and knowledge we
with local experience and knowledge we can garner a better understanding of the
can garner a better understanding of the
can garner a better understanding of the state of marine ecosystems around us
state of marine ecosystems around us
state of marine ecosystems around us anecdotal evidence alone is not enough
anecdotal evidence alone is not enough
anecdotal evidence alone is not enough to track a management strategy but
to track a management strategy but
to track a management strategy but scientific surveys alone failed to take
scientific surveys alone failed to take
scientific surveys alone failed to take into account the rich relationship that
into account the rich relationship that
into account the rich relationship that the people of Arthur will have with
the people of Arthur will have with
the people of Arthur will have with their marine resources and bringing this
their marine resources and bringing this
their marine resources and bringing this one step further we’re now taking a
one step further we’re now taking a
one step further we’re now taking a community ring approach to monitoring
community ring approach to monitoring
community ring approach to monitoring and mapping the seagrass meadows around
and mapping the seagrass meadows around
and mapping the seagrass meadows around our flora seagrass is extremely
our flora seagrass is extremely
our flora seagrass is extremely important because it supports coral
important because it supports coral
important because it supports coral reefs and the associated fisheries
reefs and the associated fisheries
reefs and the associated fisheries acting as a water filter nursery and
acting as a water filter nursery and
acting as a water filter nursery and food source but it’s also extremely
food source but it’s also extremely
food source but it’s also extremely vulnerable many threats by taking
vulnerable many threats by taking
vulnerable many threats by taking seagrass into account in our work we
seagrass into account in our work we
seagrass into account in our work we want to take into account the
want to take into account the
want to take into account the connectivity between marine habitats we
connectivity between marine habitats we
connectivity between marine habitats we also want to take into account the
also want to take into account the
also want to take into account the connectivity between management systems
connectivity between management systems
connectivity between management systems after all fish don’t stick to the
after all fish don’t stick to the
after all fish don’t stick to the boundaries of the Terra Bondi and
boundaries of the Terra Bondi and
boundaries of the Terra Bondi and particularly as those Terrebonne dues
particularly as those Terrebonne dues
particularly as those Terrebonne dues are limited to coral reef areas this is
are limited to coral reef areas this is
are limited to coral reef areas this is important our local and international
important our local and international
important our local and international volunteers work together to survey the
volunteers work together to survey the
volunteers work together to survey the seagrass ecosystem in a thorough row so
seagrass ecosystem in a thorough row so
seagrass ecosystem in a thorough row so that the community can understand their
that the community can understand their
that the community can understand their resources and be better equipped with
resources and be better equipped with
resources and be better equipped with the knowledge they need to help them
the knowledge they need to help them
the knowledge they need to help them manage them by doing this they’re able
manage them by doing this they’re able
manage them by doing this they’re able to improve their level of understanding
to improve their level of understanding
to improve their level of understanding and learn new skills that can contribute
and learn new skills that can contribute
and learn new skills that can contribute to their sense of ownership and capacity
to their sense of ownership and capacity
to their sense of ownership and capacity when it comes to marine conservation so
when it comes to marine conservation so
when it comes to marine conservation so here we are we’ve come full circle
here we are we’ve come full circle
here we are we’ve come full circle connecting the dots
connecting the dots
connecting the dots what started as our concern over
what started as our concern over
what started as our concern over overfishing has gone through many
overfishing has gone through many
overfishing has gone through many iterations from the ecological to the
iterations from the ecological to the
iterations from the ecological to the social to the economic and back again
social to the economic and back again
social to the economic and back again and it’s only by taking all of these
and it’s only by taking all of these
and it’s only by taking all of these aspects into account that marine
aspects into account that marine
aspects into account that marine conservation can be sustained and the
conservation can be sustained and the
conservation can be sustained and the only way that you can do that properly
only way that you can do that properly
only way that you can do that properly is by listening to the community and
is by listening to the community and
is by listening to the community and taking their needs into account so you
taking their needs into account so you
taking their needs into account so you might be asking the question well what
might be asking the question well what
might be asking the question well what what will you do next where do you go
what will you do next where do you go
what will you do next where do you go from here well I don’t have the answer
from here well I don’t have the answer
from here well I don’t have the answer the community does all we can do is stay
the community does all we can do is stay
the community does all we can do is stay humble and listen to their voice we want
humble and listen to their voice we want
humble and listen to their voice we want to find a way that we can move forward
to find a way that we can move forward
to find a way that we can move forward together
together
together working to address their needs in a way
working to address their needs in a way
working to address their needs in a way that’s compatible with their values
that’s compatible with their values
that’s compatible with their values working together to achieve their
working together to achieve their
working together to achieve their aspirations thank you
aspirations thank you
aspirations thank you [Applause]
”
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