Non- Profit Reef Guardians

In The Beginning

Kathryn and I first heard about the invasive Lion Fish in 2005. They came with the usual misconceptions, fun filled fabricated source method & introduction and their ability to devastate a wide range biological diversity. Research quickly revealed the truth and it was frightening. The Lion Fish were coming down the Eastern seaboard, and the Caribbean WILL be invaded. We were determined to be prepared for their arrival. Unlike the Carolina’s and Florida regions, we had fair warning and could begin a proactive program.

As active marine conservationists in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in 2006 we created a non-profit organization, The BVI “Reef Guardians” (RG). Our established dive operation capabilities and resources provided a structure in which to operate from. The BVI Scuba Organization (BVISO) quickly became a platform in which all the other local dive operators could participate and advise. We immediately began networking to collaborate with other regional organizations. The Caribbean Ocean Response (CORE) in St. Croix was a foundation in which we were able to transfer existing methods and materials. The BVI Tourist Board and Conservation and Fisheries Departments along with chief minister Ralph T. O’Neal were grateful and accommodating. Previous scuba diving clients provided RG with initial funding.

The Process

We began by establishing projects to educate local BVI businesses and community services. We were able to pragmatically explain the nature of invasive species, out intentions and why we are all stakeholders in this initiative. Caribbean Cellular Telephone (CCT) provided service and two phones. Local printers supplied, at cost, public service materials. The first were port of entry poster boards for identification and first aid procedures. The bulk of printed materials were 5X8 cards with the first aid on one side and on the other dedicated reporting phone numbers and directions for marking sightings. We traveled to church’s, civic centers and schools. Dozens of restaurants promoted the effort and collected wine bottle corks for markers. We conducted dozens of power point presentations, each followed by the making of hundreds of Lion Fish markers. Charter boat companies allowed us to train their respective management staff to include Lion Fish identification, first aid, marking and reporting instructions as part of their daily captains chart and boat briefings. They also granted permission to put “packets” on all their boats. The packets were comprised of three markers and the 5X8 card. This amounted to hundreds of boats and thousands of people each week. Now we had to cull “capture/kill” them, by the hundreds.

The BVI is a British protectorate, and as such, firearms are illegal. In order to proceed we needed the BVI to pass a bill for RG to use spear guns. Kathryn Brunn was able to get a one on one meeting with Ralph T. O’Neal. Kate, along with a friend with CORAL.org, presented a viable way to pass an amendment. We received 40 licenses that had to meet specific criteria administered by the Marine Police. One such criterion involved RG training scuba Lion Fish responders. This was the foundation for ocean event projects.

In collaboration with many government and local stakeholders we conducted beach and reef clean ups, instruction on safe handling and filleting, BBQ’s and in water scuba responder training. Beach restaurants provided the venues and with local bands playing the local radio and newspaper media were happy to provide public service announcements and post coverage review.

Our dive centers established a relationship with a BVI web site design company which provided seamless collaboration to build a web site, reefgaurdians.com. It was only moderately effective in fundraising promotions. The legal non-profit structure within the BVI prevented many potential donors the ability to receive tax credits for contributions. We had American agents attempt to obtain a 501c3 non-profit status in the USA and yet maintaining banking and operations in the BVI, with no success. We were able to circumvent some of the legal barriers by routing a few large donations through the CORE foundation in St. Croix. This had a monetary amount limit per quarter and the accounting and legal fees were restrictive. In the end we simply had to function with limited funding and rely on our local sponsorships.

Program designs gave the community the resources and businesses the desire to manage independently. In regards to this aspect Facebook became a tool to accomplish social responsibility for the program. In 2010 the BVI deregulated its telecommunication governing laws. This immediately fostered competition with CCT. Digicel and Lime began providing cellular services in frequencies (GSM & CDMA) commonly used throughout the world. A majority of the visitors now had mobile (roaming) service at sea. The Facebook account provided a means to collect sighting reports, alert others of the hazard, report sightings that were not able to be marked and we could quantify our culling efforts. It provided a superb platform to base functional operations in a more productive capacity.

Innovation

What Lion Fish were caught from open water areas were simply thrown back by the persons who caught them. Restaurants were reluctant to put the Lion Fish on their menus. Ciguatera has always been an issue with non natives consuming locally caught fish. The established protocol for visitors was for them to only eat pelagic fish, which is a good rule of thumb. There is no simple method, certainly not one we could employ for routine catches, for testing for the dangerous fish poisoning. The public education of the Lion Fish’s venomous spines unfortunately made persuading visitors to eat them more difficult.

In 2008 the fisherman began hauling in large numbers of Lion Fish in their pots. We utilized this occurrence with prototypical projects that benefited a large field of stakeholders. These programs captured Lion Fish from remote areas and provided economic, social awareness and subsistence benefits to the community. (see Fisherman & GPS page)

The BVI is a barrier reef that separates the Atlantic and Caribbean seas with a total population of 26,000. The BVI is comprised of 60 islands with 59.07 square miles of land and 35 miles of shoreline with maritime claims out 3.5 miles. This is a staggering amount of marine area and its diversity presents an insurmountable problem. A water depth between islands is no greater than 80 feet and is comprised of tremendous amounts of coral reefs that fluctuate and are best described as a complex set of pathways. A majority of the areas are exposed or open water, and impossible to cover by scuba diving.

We constantly operated “reef sweeps” in remote shorelines and moderate drop offs. This was done by dropping off a trained team of five divers who swim in a parallel line with the boat following. This method provided access to non dive areas and proved moderately effective. These approaches have to be continually maintained to be of any consequence.

Scientists may one day come up with a Grouper, Shark or other predator, a disease or maybe a way to prevent reproduction as a means of stopping the Indo Pacific Lion Fish invasion. The reality is that the Lion Fish have and will continue to devastate our oceans in which no natural balance exists. I left the Caribbean with systems in place in the BVI to realistically control the species on visited reefs. These are the ones that tourists bring home their underwater pictures from. They comprise a small portion of the BVI and do not constitute control or quantifiably protect substantial refugium regions.