MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

For years, marine resource managers and dive industry experts alike have seen the need to improve the environmental awareness of divers and snorkelers who visit coral reefs. All divers need specialized knowledge and accurate information about the plight of coral reefs. More importantly, they need the ability to apply this knowledge in a way that results in improved low-impact diving behavior among their clients. Unfortunately, few, if any, training programs for professionals have existed to address these issues in a comprehensive and real-world context...until now.

At Eco Koh Tao have endeavoured to develop an academically strong and interactive program to provide students with theoretical learning backed up with practical experience.

MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR DIVE PROFESSIONALS (MRM) is an in-depth professional development program designed to provide dive leaders with a background in coral reef ecology and other marine resource management issues which affect divers and the diving industry. No special prerequisites are required to enroll in the program except a desire to learn innovative ways to make better divers, more satisfied divers and more ecologically-friendly divers.

Background

It's no secret that coral reefs are in serious trouble. One respected source contends that more than 10 percent of these precious resources-some 35 million acres-are already degraded beyond recovery; and if something isn't done to turn the tide soon, we'll lose another 70 percent by the middle of this century (Wilkinson, 1992). This perilous state of affairs has spawned a great deal of research in recent years in an attempt to identify the causes of such a dramatic decline. Not all, but some of the problems confronting coral reefs involve tourism. While much of the tourism issue centers around coastal development and poor land-use practices, damage to reefs caused by recreational divers and snorkelers is receiving increased attention. In fact, from the diving industry's perspective, two key areas of research are: 1) the impact divers have on coral reefs and 2)establishing diver carrying capacities on coral reefs, especially within Marine Protected Areas. Largely based on this research, politicians and government administrators are now making important decisions about the management of coral reefs with respect to diving and snorkeling.

Program Content:

The course is built around the framework of four unifying themes: 
1) the functional ecology of coral reefs;
2) the worldwide state of reefs and problems they face;
3) relevant marine resource management issues; and
4) how to turn theory into practice. Here’s an outline of the topics discussed:

UNIT #1: THE ECOLOGY AND BIOLOGY OF CORAL REEFS

• An Introduction to Ecology
• Corals: Animal, Vegetable or Mineral?
• Why Coral Reefs Are Important
• The Origin and Characteristics of Coral Reefs
• Distribution/Limiting Factors, Zonation and Diversity
• Differences Between Atlantic And Indo-Pacific Reefs
• Coral Anatomy and Biology
• Ecology and Species Interactions
• Reef Structure and Associated Organisms
• Ecology of Coral Reef Fishes
• Associated Ecosystems: Mangroves and Seagrass Beds
  

UNIT #2: THE STATUS AND OUTLOOK FOR CORAL REEFS

• A Report on the State of the Reefs
• “Vanishing Treasures”: Global Threats to Coral Reefs
• Challenges for Coral Reef Management: What Can Be Done?

UNIT #3: MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: THE DIVE INDUSTRY’S PERSPECTIVE

• What is Marine Resource Management?
• The Impact of Marine Tourism
• What Science Says About Diver Impact on Coral Reefs
• The Role and Management of Marine Protected Areas
• Mooring Buoy Systems as Management Tools
• Diver Carrying Capacity: How Much is Too Much?
• The Role of Education in Protecting Coral Reefs

UNIT #4: PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DIVING PRACTICES

• Instilling a Responsible Environmental Ethic
• Guidelines for Responsible Wildlife Interaction
• How to Encourage and Supervise Low-Impact Divers
• Creative Approaches to Buoyancy Control and Diver Competence
• How to Really Teach Coral Reef Ecology