Non-Mandatory Regulations by Coral
Taskforce members
sought to help develop voluntary standards for marine tourism; CORAL hires
Kona-based Field Representative
The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) would like to announce the hiring of Kara Osada as their new Kona Field Representative. Kara will be responsible for facilitating coral reef conservation projects based in Kailua-Kona, such as the development of voluntary standards for marine tourism, a project that was recently launched and is now underway.
Kara joins Liz Foote, CORAL’s Hawaii Field Manager on Maui, in becoming CORAL’s newest Hawaii-based staff member. Originally from Colorado, Kara has had a lifetime passion for the ocean that was nurtured by trips to the Atlantic, Pacific, and the Caribbean throughout her childhood. Kara moved to Hawaii in 1999 to pursue higher education at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, graduating in 2004 with a double major in Biology (in a conservation and ecology track), and Marine Science. Kara is also currently employed by the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources and Jack’s Diving Locker, serves as Reef Check’s Hawaii Island Scientist, and is finishing a Master’s Degree at UH Hilo in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Sciences. In addition, she manages her own company providing CPR, First Aid and Oxygen certification.
Towards the end of February, CORAL held an informational meeting to announce the new stakeholder-led project it is facilitating in Kailua-Kona, the development of voluntary standards for marine tourism. Representatives from the following businesses, organizations, and agencies were in attendance: Adventures in Paradise, Bottom Time Hawaii, Dolphin Journeys, Expedia, Fair Wind, Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Jack's Diving Locker, Kohala Center, Kohala Divers, Kona Honu Divers, Kula Nai'a Foundation, Malama Kai Foundation, NOAA Fisheries, Red Sail Sports, Reefwatchers, Red Sail Sports, Sea Quest, The Nature Conservancy, University of Hawaii SeaGrant, West Hawaii Explorations Academy, and West Hawaii Fisheries Council.
These stakeholders are now forming a Taskforce for this project, and will work together to identify good environmental practices for marine recreation and to codify those practices into Voluntary Standards that can be formally adopted and promoted by marine recreation providers. To develop the standards, a Steering Committee will guide the process and work to identify, adapt and modify local Best Practices, while a Taskforce will be established to participate in this consensus-based, multi-stakeholder driven method of standards development.
The steering committee has recently identified the topics for standards development in Kailua-Kona, which include: 1) Boating (including kayaking and jet skiing); 2) Wildlife Interactions (turtles, dolphins, manta rays, and sharks); 3) Scuba Diving & Snuba; 4) Snorkeling (including spearfishing); and 5) Beachfront Operations (such as gear rental providers, surf schools, canoe clubs & tours).
Taskforce members are now being sought; the Kona Standards Taskforce (KST) is open to all; any person, organization or agency that wants to become a member of the KST and participate in the adoption or development of voluntary standards may apply. Furthermore, working groups are now being formed, providing an additional opportunity for those with appropriate expertise to assist in the actual drafting of the standards. CORAL is seeking representatives from a broad and balanced set of stakeholder groups including: marine recreation providers (scuba, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, and others), non-governmental agencies, marine resource managers, Hawaiian cultural groups, academia, activity wholesalers (activity agencies, hotel concierges, cruise lines, etc), individual ocean users (divers, snorkelers, kayakers, etc.) and those generally interested, with experience & expertise in marine recreation and reef conservation.
For more information about the project or to join the Taskforce, please contact Kara Osada; the first meeting of the working groups or subcommittees will be held May 20th (RSVP required); Kara Osada may be reached at (808) 896-1889 or kara@konaCPR.com.
The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), based in San Francisco, is a member-supported, non-profit organization, dedicated to protecting the health of coral reefs by integrating ecosystem management, sustainable tourism, and community partnerships. CORAL works with communities to identify and solve conservation challenges; changes attitudes and behavior through education and training; provides resources to strengthen marine protected areas; and creates incentives for sustainable tourism.
The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) would like to announce the hiring of Kara Osada as their new Kona Field Representative. Kara will be responsible for facilitating coral reef conservation projects based in Kailua-Kona, such as the development of voluntary standards for marine tourism, a project that was recently launched and is now underway.
Kara joins Liz Foote, CORAL’s Hawaii Field Manager on Maui, in becoming CORAL’s newest Hawaii-based staff member. Originally from Colorado, Kara has had a lifetime passion for the ocean that was nurtured by trips to the Atlantic, Pacific, and the Caribbean throughout her childhood. Kara moved to Hawaii in 1999 to pursue higher education at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, graduating in 2004 with a double major in Biology (in a conservation and ecology track), and Marine Science. Kara is also currently employed by the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources and Jack’s Diving Locker, serves as Reef Check’s Hawaii Island Scientist, and is finishing a Master’s Degree at UH Hilo in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Sciences. In addition, she manages her own company providing CPR, First Aid and Oxygen certification.
Towards the end of February, CORAL held an informational meeting to announce the new stakeholder-led project it is facilitating in Kailua-Kona, the development of voluntary standards for marine tourism. Representatives from the following businesses, organizations, and agencies were in attendance: Adventures in Paradise, Bottom Time Hawaii, Dolphin Journeys, Expedia, Fair Wind, Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Jack's Diving Locker, Kohala Center, Kohala Divers, Kona Honu Divers, Kula Nai'a Foundation, Malama Kai Foundation, NOAA Fisheries, Red Sail Sports, Reefwatchers, Red Sail Sports, Sea Quest, The Nature Conservancy, University of Hawaii SeaGrant, West Hawaii Explorations Academy, and West Hawaii Fisheries Council.
These stakeholders are now forming a Taskforce for this project, and will work together to identify good environmental practices for marine recreation and to codify those practices into Voluntary Standards that can be formally adopted and promoted by marine recreation providers. To develop the standards, a Steering Committee will guide the process and work to identify, adapt and modify local Best Practices, while a Taskforce will be established to participate in this consensus-based, multi-stakeholder driven method of standards development.
The steering committee has recently identified the topics for standards development in Kailua-Kona, which include: 1) Boating (including kayaking and jet skiing); 2) Wildlife Interactions (turtles, dolphins, manta rays, and sharks); 3) Scuba Diving & Snuba; 4) Snorkeling (including spearfishing); and 5) Beachfront Operations (such as gear rental providers, surf schools, canoe clubs & tours).
Taskforce members are now being sought; the Kona Standards Taskforce (KST) is open to all; any person, organization or agency that wants to become a member of the KST and participate in the adoption or development of voluntary standards may apply. Furthermore, working groups are now being formed, providing an additional opportunity for those with appropriate expertise to assist in the actual drafting of the standards. CORAL is seeking representatives from a broad and balanced set of stakeholder groups including: marine recreation providers (scuba, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, and others), non-governmental agencies, marine resource managers, Hawaiian cultural groups, academia, activity wholesalers (activity agencies, hotel concierges, cruise lines, etc), individual ocean users (divers, snorkelers, kayakers, etc.) and those generally interested, with experience & expertise in marine recreation and reef conservation.
For more information about the project or to join the Taskforce, please contact Kara Osada; the first meeting of the working groups or subcommittees will be held May 20th (RSVP required); Kara Osada may be reached at (808) 896-1889 or kara@konaCPR.com.
The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), based in San Francisco, is a member-supported, non-profit organization, dedicated to protecting the health of coral reefs by integrating ecosystem management, sustainable tourism, and community partnerships. CORAL works with communities to identify and solve conservation challenges; changes attitudes and behavior through education and training; provides resources to strengthen marine protected areas; and creates incentives for sustainable tourism.
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