CITIZEN SCIENCE UPDATES
As a local company, we worked with Holland America Line creating an exciting new tour program in 2009 to look for ways to foster connections between citizens and science. With the help of two area non-profits, the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program and the Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation a tour with purpose was born. Our objectives included sampling phytoplankton to identify possible "red tide" outbreaks, contributing photographs to aid in the identification of area whales and mammals, providing baseline data for several researchers throughout the state of Alaska, and collecting, cataloging and disposing of marine debris. During the 2009 summer season Holland America Line travelers' direct participation and observation gave a little something back, deepening our understanding of local wildlife and oceans. HAL has now endorsed the tour under thier new Cruise With Purpose signature program. Below is a short bio on the scientific and environmental organizations that the Whales & Glaciers - Citizen Science Adventure supports, along with a summary of the outcomes produced from gathering this citizen driven research.
ALASKA SEA GRANT MARINE ADVISORY PROGRAM
http://seagrant.uaf.edu/map/about.html
The Marine Advisory Program (MAP) is a university
based, statewide, outreach and technical assistance
program designed to help Alaskans wisely develop,
use, conserve, and enjoy Alaska’s marine and
coastal resources. MAP faculty members and staff
provide informal marine education, offer technical
assistance to coastal communities related to
economic development, conduct applied research,
and serve as a link between the University of Alaska
and Alaska Sea Grant, and marine and freshwater
resource users. The Whales & Glaciers - Citizen Science Adventure tour data was collected, transposed, and then faxed to MAP researchers from around the state. By sampling and observing, citizens achieved the following:
- Phytoplankton samples were gathered, with particular attention to identifying harmful algae blooms
- Phytoplankton sample data was entered into the NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network
- Humpback whales were identified with ID photos submitted to the NOAA Juneau Humpback Whale Catalog
- Observed marine mammal behavior, including location and population data, were provided to the Marine Advisory Program and University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists
- Baseline data was provided to the MAP that will help measure future changes in the behavior and population of humpback whales
Take a peek at the following NOAA sites to learn more:
http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/ABL/Humpback/default.htm
http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/interactivemaps/southeast-phytoplankton-monitoring-network
MARINE CONSERVATION ALLIANCE FOUNDATION
http://www.mcafoundation.org/marine.html
The Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation
(MCA Foundation) promotes the conservation and
sustainable use of fishery resources of the North
Pacific through the support of research and public
education. In addition to its cooperative research
program, the MCA Foundation oversees one of
the largest marine debris cleanup programs in the
nation. Marine debris, including derelict fishing
gear and other plastic trash, is recognized as one
of the most pernicious problems facing the world’s
oceans and shoreline. The list below entails the accomplishments of the Whales & Glaciers - Citizen Science Adventure and the efforts of the tour's volunteer citizens:
- Over the course of the summer participants gathered over 300 lbs of marine debris
- Much of the collected debris was fishing gear and household plastics
- All debris collected was cataloged by type, weight and collection site
- Any recyclable items were brought to the Juneau recycling center, all other items were disposed of at the Juneau landfill
- Several sites with oversized or heavy debris, were photographed and logged for future collection and disposal
- Baseline data was gathered that will help gauge the rate of marine debris build-up on targeted beaches
To see the breakdown of debris collected at each remote landing site, check out the google map on the MCAF site:
http://www.mcafoundation.org/googlemapGG.html
