HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023_02_02 Manta Testimony - Kirsten MoyKossow, Barbara
From: Lee and Natalie Reynolds <reyno|dshouse@ymaiicom>
Sent: Sunday, February 12'2O238l)9PK4
To: Kossow, Barbara
Subject: Pwd: Manta sites
Attachments: Needham etal. 2018 Snorkeling and scuba diving with manta rays encou.pd�
Needhameta|. 2017 Manta ray tourism interpersonal and social va|ues.pdf;Manta
Ray Viewing Boating Operations and SafetyAssessmenLpdf
Aloha Barbara,
Below are attachments that the committee would like to submit for written testimony.
Begin forwarded message:
From: KirstenMoy
Subject: Manta sites
Date: February 2,2U23at11:O8:36AMHST
To: reynoldshouse@ymail.com
Aloha e Natalie,
Great chatting. Here's the info that will help:
DO8ORLeOa| Todd Tashima
DDBORAdministrator-EdUnderwxoonj
DOBOR Deputy/Assistant (not sure, 2nd in command!) Administrator - Meghan Statts
And the research publications I mentioned, which are also referenced in the EA and my thesis, are
attached.
Here is the Environmental Assessment that my group, the Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative (HCRI) of UH
Manoa Social Science Research Institute - did with DOBOR for the manta site moorings. I coordinated
this effort starting in2U17. Myrole was totake the research and stakeholder comments that
DOBOR/other HCRI did from 2012 - 2016, and work with a team to draft the regulatory permits,
including the EA. These were all more focused on the environmental impacts of installing moorings at
the sites, and not snmuch onthe regulations.
D-2021-09-23-HA-F EA- Kau kahael ae~Point-and~YWa kako~..
I opportunistically went to grad school while on this project and made my thesis about the manta
regulations, and specifically the perception of the regulations by different sectors of stakeholder groups.
There's a good amount of background from my limited understanding in my thesis introduction chapter,
and on the manta sites starting on page 52. My thesis and defense presentation (best viewed as a
presentation; it's big bcvideos and lots oftransidons\:
DIKyNOY_�� �h��i�_�f_an`tas_amd_Men_202O.pdf
Key Findings:
Chapter1:
w Marine wildlife tourism (MVVT) management interventions are evaluated in the literature based
on three dimensions: (1) interview/survey perceptions, (2) compliance, and (3) impacts to
environmental and social systems.
9 The most effective MWT measures for the manta sites were participant education, limit boat
count, limit participant count, limit tours spatially, and donoharm.
* Regulated feeding and limit the conduct of boats were the only MWT measures that were
evaluated negatively on average. No SCUBA, Limit the proximity of participants to wildlife, and
Limit tour duration were also among the bottom -ranking measure categories.
m The most frequently -cited obstacle for effective implementation was enforcement.
Chapter3:
w Among interview participants, the average sentiment for regulations was moderately effective.
w No anchoring, no fishing, and no leaving passengers unattended were scored highest with all
scones as either neutral or effective. All other measures had greater variability in scoring
amongst participants.
9 The only measure with an average ineffective rating was moorings are first come first served.
To reduce conflict, the State orusers will need to agree on a different mechanism to access the
sites.
* The state proposes to use low -efficacy measures limit site access to 2.5 hours (tour duration)
and restrict live boating (conduct of boats) to control crowding. These measures were the
lowest -scored in the interviews after first come, first served. The State's best hope for
effectively reducing crowding will be a well -planned permitting system.
m Mandatory education was supported and emphasized for tour participants and especially for
guides and tour providers.
Overall:
* The more problematic aspects of the proposed management program can be greatly improved
through a more inclusive and community -based approach to management, and all regulations
should be monitored and evaluated based onthe same dimensions present inthe literature:
perceptions, compliance, and impacts.
[A F1NAL,,_20200306_KMOY_Of Mantas and Men.pptx
Let me know if I can help summarize anything else, or if you come across any other head -scratchers.
Thank you for helping amplify the concerns of the Kona community and get answers from the powers
that be!
Cheers,
_
><K(n> ><(((O> ></KO> ><///n> ><K/C1>
-0rstenV. Moy
Project Manager
Havv3i'iCoral Reef Initiative
Social Science Research Institute
University of Hawaii at Manoa
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cell: (919) 928-1851