CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
PARTNERS
CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
SEAHORSES ARE WORLDWIDE EMBLEMATIC SPECIES
| Two species of seahorses in Portugal
Short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus) Long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus)
| Occurrence mainly in Ria Formosa lagoon (Algarve)
| Bioindicators of wealth, productivity and health state of Ria Formosa
| Flag species for the ecossystem conservation CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018 CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
WHY THE CAMPAIGN? The Ria Formosa lagoon, once harboured one of the highest densities of seahorses in the world.
Due to habitat degradation and illegal capture, the seahorses populations run the risk of disappearing. CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
Risk of local extintion: urgent measures are needed! CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
WHO? In 2018 Oceano Azul Foundation/Oceanário de Lisboa designed a campaign to raise awareness and alert the local communities
This commitment involved partnerships CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
OUR PROPOSAL
Engage all stakeholders in order to:
Raise awareness Alert for the decrease of populations Eliminate threats Change behaviours Recover populations
Save the future of the seahorses in Ria Formosa CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018 CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
HOW?
Five different axis of actions:
| Political | Scientific | Social | Educational | Communication CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
| POLITICAL ACTION
Involvement of Public authorities (local municipalities, maritime authorities) and the Portuguese Central Government
| Call for strong action against those illegal actions: law enforcement and oversight
| Document delivered: «General Status of the Seahorses population» CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
| SCIENTIFIC ACTION
Increase knowledge on the status of the seahorse populations
HG HH
) 0,20 2
0,15
0,10 Density (seahorse m (seahorse Density 0,05
0,00 2001 2008 2012 2018 CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
| SCIENTIFIC ACTION
Increase knowledge on the status of the seahorse populations
• Since 2001, there is an apparent downward trend (seahorse populations decreased +/- 90% in the Ria Formosa)
• Apparent decrease in habitat complexity (vs 2012 data)
• If illegal capture continues it will result in an unrecoverable decrease of the Ria Formosa populations CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
| SOCIAL ACTION
Awareness and literacy actions for fishing communities and other local stakeholders
| Recognition of the importance of this ecosystem
| Alert for possible threats
| Behavioural change
| Engage the local community CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
| SOCIAL ACTION
Awareness and literacy actions for fishing communities and other local stakeholders
| 159 contacts made during the campaign
| 27 semi-structured interviews +10 informal
| Variable Level of perception of ilegal catch
| 75% stakeholders available to collaborate
| 3 key actors identifyed CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
| SOCIAL ACTION
Awareness and literacy for fishing communities and other local stakeholders
| Identification of key actors and leaders within the communities to easily pass the message and promote behavioural changes
| Final discussion forum with all stakeholders involved CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
| EDUCATIONAL ACTION
Outreach educational action for school children in the region
ACTIVITIES • Presentation of pedagogical contents • Hands-on activities (Biology and habitat of seahorses) • Use didactic material (Book and game)
REACH • 8 000 Students from 5 to 9 y/o (pre-K and primary schools) CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018 STORYTELLING «O XERIFE DA RIA FORMOSA» STORYTELLING CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018 SEAHORSES CASE STUDY WHICH GOALS? | Promote behavioural change | Raise awareness about the urgent need to protect seahorses | Recognise possible causes | Increase knowledge about seahorses
| Children as facilitators for increasing public support for species conservation CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018 RESULTS
Students 9152 (+14% than the objective) 60% of the students from the municipalities reached 30% pre-k
Schools 108 CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018 NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (5 TO 9 Y/O), 108 SCHOOLS TOTAL = 9152
6250
5000 4841 Alunosstudents 4529 Totaltotal alunos students
3750
3123 2955 2829
2500
1703 1562 1291 1250 903 762
0 Faro Loulé Olhão Tavira V.R. Sto. António CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018 FEEDBACK Students Campaigns Posters Stories
Teachers Book is a useful educational tool
Parents Positive feedback Children shared what they learned
CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
| COMMUNICATION ACTION
| 2’ Video to raise awareness about the seahorse population decrease | News (articles, TV) - 26 | Investigation article in major newspaper «Expresso». CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
| GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
| Continue monitoring the seahorse population in Ria Formosa
| Create small protected areas (no human activity) to act as sanctuary
| Promote ocean literacy/awareness actions, stakeholders involvement
| Promote citizen science actions to monitor and protect seahorse populations CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018
| GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
| Enforce surveillance and punitive measures to deter illegal activities
| Train local authorities and nature tourism operators (workshps)
| Engage stakeholders to regulate activities in the Ria (particularly tourism)
| Develop a « good practices» manual to decrease negative impacts CAMPAIGN «SAVE THE SEAHORSES IN RIA FORMOSA» 2018 MITIGATE THE THREATS AND RECOVER THE SEAHORSES POPULATION OF RIA FORMOSA DEPENDS ON ALL OF US!
Commercial Public Aquaria Municipalities Fishers
Users Local operators Central Captaincy government Tourism NGO’s
Scientific Researchers PNRF Community Recreational Fishers Maritime Civil Policy Society Thank you [email protected]