The EWG-ORD Workshop: Sustainable Centre for Marine Conservation & Research- SDG 9, SDG 14

Reiyah Shetty

Rizvi College of Architecture, [email protected]

Abstract

Rapidly growing, heedless human activity is the leading cause of degrading marine ecosystems all over the world. It is vital to work towards restoring and conserving life below the ocean. India has a number of institutes working towards research and conservation for marine ecology but a gap between people studying the ocean and people working on conserving and restoring it needs to be bridged. Further, communities must be engaged to better understand marine life and the impact of human intervention.

A design module for a Sustainable Unified Marine Centre consisting of dedicated wings namely- Research, Education, Critical Care Unit and Community has been created. An architectural design built with sustainable materials has been proposed in southern India which focuses on - supporting local degrading marine ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs through dedicated field research in collaboration with local fishing communities ensuring sustainable fishing practices; collaborative marine education; a critical care facility catering to beached/ distressed marine cetaceans ; a public interpretive centre that educates and engages the community through informative galleries and activities. The Centre develops and regulates the process of marine conservation and research, while the network of people/ supporting institutes play the role of catalysts.

Keywords: unified, marine centre, collaboration, community, network

Introduction

The ocean harbours a rich source of biodiversity, whose population exceeds in trillions. They are the main regulatory agent of earth's climate. It was thought that human beings cannot pollute this vast amount of water as the marine ecosystems are capable of serving as a sink for all the pollution. However, we have come to realize that our waste & other harmful activities have catastrophic effects on ocean communities and species. About 60% of the world's population live within 60 km of the coastline and use it for their livelihood. Sea regions with developing nations around them are particularly vulnerable to pollution, a situation which is compounded by the fact that marine life census is inadequately documented.

India has a coastline of about 8000 km and a very wide range of coastal ecosystems such as estuaries, lagoons, mangroves, backwaters, salt marshes, rocky coasts, sandy stretches and coral reefs. Over 3500 fishing villages are situated along the Indian coastline with approximately one million people occupied full time in marine capture fisheries. The marine environment is facing adversities due to people’s needs. In the absence of good management, these adversities are proliferated.

Data & Observations

Karnataka is a state in the south western region of India with various coastal ecosystems, islands and ports. Uttara is one of the biggest districts of the State, abundant in natural resources with close to 25 beaches. This coastal belt is known to be an educational hub. In this district lies the port town of whose economy depends on tourism, fishing and agriculture. Activities connected with Fisheries are carried out on large scales with the help of the State and Central Government. Like most other coastal stretches, this stretch too is subject to pollution and commercial exploitation because of the general pattern- whatever is used on land today ends up in the aquifer or coastal zone tomorrow.

The concerns for the coastal/marine ecosystem of this region are as follows:

1. The construction of Tadadi Seaport in this district, is bending many rules by not following the EIA guidelines (damaging oyster beds, etc.). Scientists and ecologists have pointed out that the construction of the port would damage a fragile coastal ecosystem. The estuary where the port is proposed to be constructed, is one of the most biologically productive coastal systems in hence building a port there could cause extensive damage.

2. Many locals practice aquaculture as well as agriculture leading to eutrophication of the coastal waters.

3. The rise in sea surface temperature has had a severe impact on the food and livelihood of the coastal population. This affects fishing practices which in turn affect the marine organisms.

4. Marine cetaceans in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone are one of the least studied animals. Many cetaceans die due to the pollution caused by humans. They sometimes get caught up in the waste or stray fishing gear and get suffocated to death. In recent years, with increasing fishing activity and extension of fishing to oceanic waters, the encounters between fishing gear and marine cetaceans are on the rise. Unfortunately the incidental kills have not been regularly monitored in India. About 9,000 to 10,000 dolphins are estimated to be caught by gillnet annually along the Indian coasts. In the past few years, aong the West coast, cetacean beach stranding has been at an all-time high. This could be due to the disturbances produced by human activity in and around their habitat. In most situations passers-by don’t know how to help or deal with the situation and there are no trained professionals around to help. There is often an issue of misidentification of species because of the lack of common knowledge of marine mammal taxonomy.

5. There are a number of mangroves, estuaries & rivers all along the coast which need attention due to the rising pollution levels which can be directly linked to tourism & rising population. Indiscriminate cutting, reclamation for agriculture/ urbanization and overgrazing by domestic cattle have severely degraded mangroves around this region.

6. Coral reef research in India is still at a preliminary stage. Little information is available on the coral reef ecosystem as a whole or on the relationship between the Indian economy and the ecological resources of coral reefs. Netrani Island which is 10 nautical miles from this town had a rich fringing coral reef ecosystem. Unfortunately, the Indian government was using this island for its armed forces’ target practice thus destroying the ecological balance of the Island and its surrounding. This Island has been at the centre of dispute between the Navy & Environmental groups that want to protect the coral reefs and its biodiversity. In 2012, the court issued a stay order on these naval practices in and around that area, thus preventing any further damage. Despite this, the island needs to be revived, protected & conserved in order to restore its once rich coral reef ecosystem.

7. Every institute working on ocean studies throughout the country has its own research agenda and special focus. Despite Coastal Karnataka being an educational hub and having a 150 km coastline, the state has only one Fisheries Institute which focuses on an iota of the challenges faced by the coast. There is a lack of infrastructure in place to monitor Marine Ecosystems.

8. Development of realistic management plans for marine/coastal areas involving local community participation is absent.

Figure 1: Marine/ Coastal Ecosystem Concerns in the Region

Methods

The observations based on available data of the region have grave impacts on the coastal/ marine ecosystems. The methods to alleviate the above mentioned concerns are listed below:

A. Developing Geography based Information Systems for critical habitats containing all information necessary for preparing management plans.

B. Determining Waste Assimilation Capacity at coastal habitats.

C. Following EIA Guidelines for major coastal developmental activities and processes including marking User Classification of Coastal Zones for future developmental activities like no impact zones, etc.

D. Scientific Expeditions and Field Documentation.

E. Monitoring of Taxonomic Inventories such as novel specie descriptions through Integrated Approach and Ecological Studies for various purposes, it is also crucial as most marine fish spend some stage of their lifecycle in the Mangrove/ Estuarine ecosystem.

F. The introduction of Aquaponics to help synthesize both agriculture (hydroponics) and aquaculture while reducing the marine pollution caused by these activities as the aquaculture waste is recycled and no pesticides will be used to grow plants.

G. Collaborate with Local Fishing Communities in order to ensure sustainable fishing practices and in exchange obtain traditional ecological knowledge and understand of the relationship these communities share with the coast. This will help to develop and increase the potential of marine living resources to meet human nutritional needs, maintaining/ restoring populations of marine species to produce the maximum sustainable yield, promoting the development and uses of selective fishing gear and practices that minimize waste in the catch of target species and minimize by-catch of non-target species.

H. Conservation Management Action Plans are important for maintaining and restoring the distribution, abundance and diversity of the marine ecosystem in the Indian EEZ. The plan will begin by focusing on the cetaceans of this coastal stretch but can eventually modify into a national action plan for other conservation purposes. A Task Force must be created and trained to help with the following:  Reducing incidental kills by fishing gear  By-catch management  Establishing marine mammal stranding network  Necropsy of beach-cast samples  Research needs  Non-invasive ecotourism  Awareness building

The task force will comprise of two major groups of people:  Authorities or local officials involved in dealing with cetaceans and  Local people of coastal villages who can play a primary role in dealing with the stranding/beaching of cetaceans.(Fishing Communities, Local leaders, Responsible/ Interested Candidates from Coastal Villages, Any other Stakeholders involved in cetacean activities)

The programme & preparation to train the task force will comprise of the following:  Preparing training manuals, pamphlets, audio-visuals aids, etc.  A pre-training evaluation to assess the knowledge of the participants with respect to the cetaceans and their conservation.  A bilingual training programme identifying and dealing with stranded/beached cetaceans, developing necropsy protocols for reporting and dealing with stranded/beached cetaceans & species identification  Evaluating the post-training awareness of locals and authorities  Compiling of data and report preparation

I. Create a strong National Network and eventually an International Network. This will encourage systematic, long term monitoring of the ecosystems and the life they nurture, which will provide credible facts for governments to take decisions on development in the region. It can help to bring together all agencies/institutions working on Marine Conservation & Research into a National Network.

J. A Marine Research & Conservation Institute would fill in a significant niche in this region. It will lead the first steps in the process to insert quality marine education as a separate entity along with inclusions into the regular education system. This is an important issue to be imbued in the system where several economic activities of this region depend on the marine biodiversity. Students who finish school might continue studies on marine related fields or become directly involved in economic activities linked to the use of marine resources, either through tourism, fisheries or by providing services to these. Besides everyone needs to know the marine resources they have available, the relationships between the several elements of the marine ecosystem, how these sustain a large part of the region’s economy and the impacts that these activities may have on their source of incomes if not conserved in a sustainable way.

K. Links between the Community and the Ocean will favour discussions that may result in planning and implementation of actions to help mitigate threats to the marine biodiversity. These links will change the attitudes, consumption habits and development of activities for the benefit of the marine life and their environment. Education and awareness campaigns will involve the local community and build capacity for conservation initiatives.

L. Adoption of Precautionary and Anticipatory Approach to Development Planning to encourage the integration of marine environmental protection into other environmental, social and economic development policies. Including the adoption of economic incentives to apply clean technologies.

M. Governments must ensure Effective Monitoring and Enforcement with respect to fishing activities, protecting and restoring endangered marine species, preserving habitats and other ecologically sensitive areas while promoting scientific research with respect to marine living resources & its ecology. They must also build links with relevant development bodies.

A Strong, Cooperated and Coordinated Network will strengthen links across National and International Platforms benefiting the marine ecosystem as a whole.

Figure 2: Links between Concerns and Methods

Results- Programme

With the increasing amount of human interference causing pollution and destruction to the marine ecosystem and dwindling marine life, it is vital to restore and conserve the marine environment. Hence a centre dedicated to conserve the marine ecology is required.

Even though there are a number of institutes which work towards research and conservation in India there is a wide gap that needs to be bridged. This cannot be attained with a small pocket of people studying the oceans and a few more trying to restore and conserve it. The only way out is to develop communities of people to be aware of the importance of the oceans and the harm that their interference can cause along with in-depth studies by professionals.

This centre aims to bring together a host of activities to protect the Marine flora and fauna along the coast and collaborate with other agencies throughout the country to make sure that the marine environment degradation is immediately reversed. The following will be a part of the Centre:

 A Research Wing which will study marine flora & fauna of India, especially Karnataka and its supporting marine ecosystems like Mangroves, Coral Reefs, Estuaries & Rivers. It will also focus on Marine Life including cetaceans & fish. These will be studied through dedicated field research providing necessary scientific ideas which are critical for the better protection and conservation of the marine ecosystem and for sustainable development through existing and innovative ideas. This research wing will also collaborate with local fishing communities to share knowledge and ensure sustainable fishing practices through lectures, new techniques, etc.  An Educational Wing providing undergraduate and graduate education to people who want to pursue marine/ocean studies through collaborative teaching methods. Additionally, an education division specializing in school and public programs for all ages will be incorporated. These initiatives will include internships, summer camps, school visits, field trips, on-demand learning experiences, special lecture series and distance-learning programmes which connects the institutes’ educators to young students across the country.

 A Critical Care Facility which will provide rehabilitation for marine cetaceans where they can be rescued, nursed and released in case of beach stranding or other emergencies.

 A Public Interpretive Centre which showcases the marine/ coastal ecosystem, the conservation problems it faces and how important it is for the country’s economy. The information gallery will have raised texts, infographics, pictures, interactive spaces and three-dimensional models of marine species. This will be supported by lectures, conferences, workshops and audio-visual sessions which will not only throw light upon the present situation of the ocean but also inform people on how to deal with situations like stranding, etc. The centre will also distribute informative materials through leaflets, etc. The Centre will collaborate with local children & adolescents through various programmes. An area will be designated to analyze the samples collected during their field trips with the help of basic equipment. The findings and specimens studied at the Research Wing will be made available to the public in a clear & concise manner. The Centre will provide public access to the library and archives for study and exploration in all aspects of aquatic and marine sciences and their allied disciplines. It will also advice and guide the conservation initiatives proposed by the visitors. Besides this the public outreach programme could also be catalysed by having information kiosks/ pod sized informative galleries at important tourist locations like outside temples, beaches & airports.

Figure 3: Links between the Institute and People

‘The pivotal role of this centre will be to bring academicians, policy makers, researchers, conservation activists, students, fisher-folks and the community onto one platform through a collaborative process.’

Results- Design

The location of the proposed site is ideal because of a 24 m wide highway (NH-66) connecting to a 12m wide road leading to the site and a 3 m wide coastal access road abutting the site. The coastal road will prove beneficial for the transportation of beached cetaceans and will ease access along the coast making onshore and off shore research in tandem. The close proximity to the highway and coastal belt will lead to a wider pubic outreach programme ranging from locals, tourists to students. It is situated close to many fishing communities whose interactions with the proposed institute will benefit the region as well as the institute. The existing climate, soil & vegetation conditions lead to the following measures:  A grid planning to avoid the cutting of the abundant coconut trees present on site in.  The laterite from the soil used as screen walls to maintain privacy, act as a shield from the harsh sun/ winds & define the user movement along the 11 hectare (27 acre) site. This is also a cost effective measure as materials available in the region are being utilized.

In order to accommodate a host of activities while giving the sea facing view its due diligence a combination of public, semi-public and private zones have been designed with adequate views of the sea. Thus incorporating the built spaces with nature, sky & water. The formation of these spaces allow formal and informal interaction between people who are part of the institute and people visiting it.

Conclusion

Human activities causing disturbances; erratic increase in development along the coast due to inadequacies in the planning processes; lack of baseline information on marine/ coastal biodiversity; the absence of protected area framework are severely affecting the marine environment. Systems and communities must come together on a unified platform to reverse and transform the current state of affairs. The figures above show the complex connections between the concerns, tools used to tackle them and people. While a Unified Centre solves a wide range of issues, the need for several strong regional & national networks not only help strengthen the fight for the ocean but also helps sustain the programme which deals with a plethora of challenges.

Essentially the Institute plays the role of the Central Nervous System, while the networks of people/ supporting institutes are a complex and interwoven web of nerves which are vital to keep the programme operational.

References

1. Vineeta Hoon (2007), Coral Reefs of India: Review of Their Extent, Condition, Research and Management Status, Chennai, India 2. K. Sivakumar et al, Research Gaps in Coastal and Marine Conservation in India: 231-241, Dehradun, India 3. (http://www.ksczma.kar.nic.in, accessed 15 February 2016) 4. Francis Andrade et al (2011), Studies on coastal water pollution and its sources, Karnataka, India 5. (http://anetindia.org/, accessed 23 April 2016) 6. (https://www.marinemammalscience.org/, accessed 28 January 2016) 7. Adam Jadhav, Identifying Conservation Needs in India’s Offshore Waters 8. Dr. R. C. Prajapati (2010), Biodiversity of Karnataka at a Glance, , India