Volunteer Participation in Marine Surveys English Nature Research Reports
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Report Number 556 Volunteer participation in marine surveys English Nature Research Reports working today for nature tomorrow English Nature Research Reports Number 556 Volunteer participation in marine surveys Robert Irving Sea-scope Marine Environmental Consultants October 2003 You may reproduce as many additional copies of this report as you like, provided such copies stipulate that copyright remains with English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 1UA ISSN 0967-876X © Copyright English Nature 2003 Summary This report is divided into two main parts. The first part examines existing marine volunteer recording schemes together with their parent organisations, whilst the second part looks at the range of UK Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) which lie within the marine sphere. Volunteers offer a cost-effective means of obtaining valuable marine nature conservation data. Together, they form an unpaid workforce, willing to give of their time, knowledge and enthusiasm in return for supporting a worthwhile cause, a chance to expand their horizons, and the satisfaction that their efforts will be for the common good. This report has found that, through a questionnaire distributed to over 20 voluntary organisations involved in volunteer marine recording, feedback is important. Volunteers value the fact that their efforts are appreciated and they are likely to remain committed to a project if they can see it is being well run and that the data they have helped to acquire is being put to good use. Examples of existing volunteer projects which record habitat and species information from the intertidal zone include the Sealife Survey project (WWF/MarLIN), the Recording Scheme (Porcupine Marine Natural History Society) and the Shore Watch project (run by the British Marine Life Study Society). Habitats and species in the near-shore subtidal zone are targeted by the Seasearch project (run by the Marine Conservation Society). There are also a number of other recording schemes looking at cetacean species, basking sharks and turtles. The training of individuals participating in these projects is regarded as being of paramount importance if accurate records (especially of species identification) are to be produced. The report assesses English Nature’s role in the various volunteer recording schemes. It is considered appropriate that EN funding be targeted at certain aspects of these schemes and their parent organisations, particularly in the fields of training (of volunteers and staff members); the supply of educational materials; the provision of computer hardware/software and the training of staff in its use; ensuring co-ordination exists between the different voluntary organisations, especially where there is mutual interest in a particular species or habitat; and assistance with feedback and the dissemination of information. It is appreciated that little is known about the extent and distribution of many BAP habitats and of the distribution and population dynamics of many BAP species. Of the 33 marine BAPs, there are 28 considered by the author of this report to be applicable to volunteer participation at some level. These 28 have been divided into those where volunteers would need to act as observers on board a boat or from cliffs; those where volunteers undertaken survey work on the shore; and those which require volunteers to be fully trained SCUBA divers. Within these 28 BAPs, there are six where the species and/or habitats are considered to be too fragile (e.g. the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, or the saline lagoon habitat) or too dangerous (e.g. mudflats or tidal rapids) for full volunteer participation. Provisional cost estimates for different levels of English Nature involvement in these volunteer recording schemes are given. Acknowledgements Many people have helped in providing the information upon which this report is based. I should like to thank the following in particular for their input: Guy Baker, MarLIN Nicola Beharrell, Programme Manager, The Society for Environmental Exploration (Frontier) Gavin Black, Marine Biodiversity Records Officer, Devon Wildlife Trust Dr Frances Dipper, Porcupine Marine Natural History Society Mrs Sam Fanshawe, Head of Conservation, Marine Conservation Society Neil Garrick-Maidment, Seahorse Trust Vanessa Hampton, ex-M.Sc student, University of Portsmouth Dr Simon Harding, Science Co-ordinator, Coral Cay Conservation Alison Hood, Publicity Officer, Shark Trust Jan Light, Conchological Society Dr Angela Moffat, Marine Biodiversity Co-ordinator, English Nature (P’boro) Jon Moore, Porcupine Marine Natural History Society Kate Northen, Sea-Scope, Marine Environmental Consultants Jon Parr, MarLIN Ian Reach, English Nature (P’boro) Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, Biodiversity Officer, Marine Conservation Society Ben Totterdell, NBN SW Pilot Scheme Project Officer, English Nature (Exeter) Ruth Williams, Marine Conservation Officer, Cornwall Wildlife Trust Chris Wood, Seasearch Co-ordinator, Marine Conservation Society Contents Acknowledgements Summary Part 1. Marine volunteer recording schemes.............................................................................9 1. Introduction..................................................................................................................11 1.1 The background to this scoping study .............................................................11 1.2 Marine habitats and species recording – a brief history...................................12 1.3 The experience of terrestrial volunteer recording schemes .............................13 2. Using volunteers to collect marine data.......................................................................13 2.1 Why volunteer?................................................................................................14 2.2 Who volunteers? ..............................................................................................15 2.3 Maintaining an on-going commitment to/from volunteers..............................16 2.3.1 Feedback..............................................................................................16 3. Existing volunteer marine recording schemes .............................................................17 3.1 Marine ecological survey organisations based in the UK................................17 3.2 Volunteer marine recording schemes...............................................................18 3.3 Strengths and weaknesses of the schemes .......................................................21 3.3.1 What makes a successful volunteer programme? ................................21 3.4 Data quantity and quality.................................................................................24 3.4.1 Data collection .....................................................................................25 3.4.2 Data validation.....................................................................................26 3.4.3 Data entry.............................................................................................27 3.4.4 Data dissemination...............................................................................27 3.5 Project management – getting it right from the start .......................................28 3.6 Utilising SCUBA divers in volunteer recording schemes ...............................30 3.6.1 The impact of divers on the underwater environment .........................30 3.6.2 Existing volunteer recording schemes for SCUBA divers ..................31 3.6.3 What can ‘amateur’ divers be expected to record?..............................34 3.6.4 The distinction between the professional and the amateur diver – HSE matters .....................................................................................................34 4. English Nature’s role in volunteer recording schemes ................................................35 4.1 What are the options for English Nature’s involvement?................................35 4.1.1 Funding ID Training Courses ..............................................................36 4.1.2 Assistance with obtaining data from other sources..............................36 4.1.3 Funding educational materials .............................................................36 4.1.4 Provision of software packages and training in their use ....................37 4.1.5 4.1.5 Ensuring co-ordination between different volunteer groups.......37 4.1.6 Assistance with the feedback of information.......................................37 4.2 The dissemination of information....................................................................38 4.2.1 Technical considerations for the dissemination of collected data........38 4.2.2 Promotion of schemes with the general public ....................................39 4.3 Cost estimates for different levels of involvement by English Nature ............39 Part II. Marine Biodiversity Action Plans...............................................................................43 5. The information required to deliver marine BAPs ......................................................45 5.1 BAPs – what are they all about?......................................................................45 5.2 Which marine BAPs are relevant to this study? ..............................................45 5.3 Marine BAPs appropriate for surveying by volunteers on board boats at sea.50 5.3.1 Harbour porpoise .................................................................................51 5.3.2 Baleen