Q&A with MAR Leaders

Lots of different people apply every year to become a MAR Leader, but only 12 are selected.

Meet some of the MAR Leaders right here as we chat to 4 of the 2011 Fellows about what makes them tick and how they came to be involved in doing what they do.

Ana Giro Petersen

Ana has a degree in Aquaculture and is currently doing a Master’s Degree in Science and Technology. She also teaches classes at the Centre for Aquaculture and Oceanic Studies at USC (on Oceanography and Untraditional Species Cultivation).

Age:28
Born:Guatemala City
Lives:Guatemala City
Q. Can you explain what Aquaculture is?
A. Aquaculture refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments, including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean.
Q. Tell us about your most memorable underwater experience?
A. Definitely the first time I went diving! I remember entering the water and feeling like I could fly, feeling free. Getting near the reef for the first time was simply remarkable; the beautiful colours of the corals and fish were just the beginning of my adventure discovering the amazing world beneath the waves. I have been diving ever since and every dive is a whole new experience.
Q. Tell us briefly what your MAR Leaders project is all about?
A. Two other leaders from Guatemala and I are carrying out a joint project. Curiously, we all applied to the program separately. However, our individual projects had so much in common that we decided to unite our efforts and work together. Our project seeks to identify priority ecosystems for the conservation and sustainable use of the Mesoamerican Reef System in the Guatemalan Caribbean. We collect biological, oceanographic and fishing data, with the help of fishermen and local authorities. When we work with these guys, we get them onboard with our goals, and work better together to agree and locate important areas for conservation. Part of our project is promoting the creation of the first marine protected area (MPA) in Guatemala as a ‘no-take zone’. Over the past couple of years, an official study was conducted on gaps in marine-coastal conservation in Guatemala. These studies, together with the creation of the National Marine-Coastal Policy and the Master Plan for Punta Manabique, have created an ideal environment for implementing this project.
Q. What was your goal when joining the MAR Leadership Program?
A. To gain more knowledge and skills for my project.
Q. What will you do at the end of your participation in the MAR Leadership Program?
A. Use the knowledge and skills I’ve obtained to advance my career. I’ll also have able partners like the other MAR Leaders, other experts and donors that can help me with my project in Guatemala.
Q. What is the best place you’ve ever travelled to and why?
A. Easy! The Belizean Keys for sure. Belize has amazing reefs for diving. Every time you go you have a completely different experience—it’s absolutely beautiful! During my last trip to the Keys, I spent time with local fishermen who shared their experience and artisanal fishing knowledge with me. Experiencing the Belizean culture made the place even more incredible.
Q. What is your top ocean conservation tip?
A. Because floating plastic resembles food to many marine creatures like birds and fish, they can choke or starve because their digestive systems get blocked when they eat it. So recycling, using reusable water bottles and cloth grocery bags is critical!

Gaby Nava

Gaby is currently finishing her doctoral studies in Ecology and Sustainable Marine Development, and has a BSc in Biology and Masters in science. She was the Mexican Rep for Reef Check, who developed educational materials and guidelines for volunteers.

Age:33
Born:Minatitlán, Veracruz, Mexico
Lives:Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Q. Tell us about Reef Check and also a bit about your role there?
A. Reef Check is an initiative that was created to educate people on the importance of coral reefs (www.reefcheck.org). I am their Mexican Representative. The organization trains non-specialists how to identify indicator species and how to monitor the reef. Then the individuals learn first-hand about the importance of the reef and what makes it up. I started working with Reef Check in Cozumel to integrate stakeholders (dive operators and fishermen) into the National Marine Park’s monitoring program. After that, I worked with Oceanus, A.C. to get even more people involved. Then I ran training workshops around Quintana Roo with tourists, dive masters, dive instructors, fishermen and volunteers—to help people learn about Reef Check and get people motivated to run their own reef monitoring activities.
Q. What is it that you love most about the ocean?
A. It’s always amazing to think just how much life exists within it and how the process of the ocean works in a perfect balance. But what I love most is the water and its depth. While diving, I always feel like part of the ocean. I love the simple sound of waves, which rouse colourful blue visions in my mind. I love the feeling of floating in water; the immensity of the deep blue; the sun and the waves.
Q. What was the most amazing experience you had whilst working for Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) for coral reefs?

A. CSI for Coral Reefs is a program that works to get reliable data for prosecuting reef damage cases. The tools and methodologies of the program include impact definition, standardized production of evidence and procedures for evaluating damage to the reef.

I have been part of a team that evaluates damage produced by ship groundings – we’ve got to work out the impact of the damage and find solutions. Basically, we’ll have to work out how to represent the damage in “coral-years” to portray how much time is needed to recover a damaged coral reef ecosystem. One of the most amazing experiences I’ve had with this initiative is being part of the instructor team. We share how to get best outcomes in the damage cases with biologists, enforcement officers, rangers, scientists and lawyers. Working with so many different people from so many different places has been eye opening!

Q. What was your goal when joining the MAR Leadership Program?
A. To advance both my personal and professional development. I wanted to develop skills and learn. Like how to write effective proposals for reef conservation project, or how to fundraise so we can make things happen from project to real life. In day to day life, the skills like negotiation, presenting, etc, have been really useful. I’m really satisfied with what I’ve taken away from the MAR Leadership Program.
Q. Tell us briefly what your MAR Leaders project is all about?
My project aims to implement a coral reef restoration program in Xcalak Reefs National Park. That involves establishing nurseries and restoration sites (starting with the rehabilitation of the Acropora palmate species). To promote active restoration of habitats, get more coral and key species to grow. When coral is restored, the environmental benefits for the reef are great. The project’s nurseries and restoration sites will be classified as special management zones, which give the area a unique product to market within its tourism. And the hope is that tourists and travellers will chip in to protect the area too.
Q. What will you do at the end of your participation in the MAR Leadership Program?
A. I’ll aim to gain more funds to keep developing and scaling up my project, as I think it’s really important for the wellbeing of Xcalak Reefs National Park. I am want to figure out how to replicate these efforts in other protected and non-protected areas in the MAR region. Sharing what I’ve learned with my colleagues and co-workers will also be key to me. MAR Leaders from the Mexican Caribbean like me, are actively trying to link efforts in no-take zones, fisheries and restoration activities because together, we can boost conservation impacts across national and international borders. It’s all about collaboration.
Q. What is the best place you’ve ever travelled to and why?
A. Coral reefs anywhere in the world always make for a magical destination. If I had to choose one spot, I would tell you to go visit the reefs of Okinawa, Japan (Iriomote Island) where the coral coverage is simply astounding. This landscape—along with Japanese culture—makes it a place to remember.
Q. What is your top ocean conservation tip?
A. To remember, even if you live far from the ocean, your actions can have a direct impact on marine ecosystems. All waste that is dumped into rivers will eventually flow into the sea. Rising ocean temperatures—produced in part by an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere—translate into serious impacts on coral reef ecosystems. By reducing our ecological footprint through energy saving, waste separation, recycling, composting, walking more, using our cars less, consuming local products and supporting marine conservation efforts, we will be able to help our oceans together.

Yimy Chirinos

Yimy has a Law degree and worked as a Fiscal Specialist for the Public Ministry of Honduras on the environment of the Atlantic Coast, and he’s now a judge in Roatán. These days he works to bring cases against environmental violations of the Atlantic Coast of Honduras.

Age:30
Born:Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Lives:Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras
Q. What is the main threat facing the Honduran Caribbean?
A. Immunity and a lack of law enforcement when dealing with environmental offences that have to do with coastal, fishery and forestry crimes.
Q. What type of cases have you recently been working on?
A. I’ve been working on filing a criminal report against an illegal fishing case in the Cayos Cochinos protected area. Approximately 2,000lbs. of lobster, finfish and king crab were confiscated. Likewise, 900 traps were destroyed that were found in the area’s nucleus zone.
Q. How many years have you been diving and what do you love most about it?
A. I don’t dive—I snorkel and I love it!
Q. What was your goal when joining the MAR Leadership Program?
A. To take part in the training to learn how to develop projects and to increase my knowledge on fisheries and the MAR. I’ve been given constant support for my professional development, which has immeasurably improved my ability to protect Honduras’ resources.
Q. Tell us about your project
My project will strengthen the capacities of the legal system (judges and prosecutors) in topics related to fishery legislation. The aim is to raise awareness, train, and energize judges and prosecutors so that they will more firmly apply legislation and fishery regulations, as well as fight against impunity in these types of crimes.
Q. What will you do at the end of your time in the MAR Leadership Program?
A. From a legal standpoint, keep fighting for the protection of the region’s natural resources. I’ll also share everything I’ve gained in the program with my colleagues in Honduras.
Q. What is the most amazing place you’ve traveled to and why?
A. Definitely Roatán, because of its amazing ecosystem biodiversity (ocean and land).

Kim Ley

Kim is completing his doctoral studies at the Curtin University of Technology in Australia to gain a BSc in Biology & Masters in Marine biology. He has worked as coordinator and project advisor for the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Kim also founded his own non- profit organization called RAZONATURA.

Age:33
Born:Mexico City
Lives:Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Q. What sort of things did you do when working for the United Nations Development Program (PNUD)?
A. PNUD has an initiative called Verde Ventures. I was hired as a consultant to develop sustainability and social responsibility criteria for the marketing of local products. I aimed to link local communities with buyers interested in both sustainability and hotels. It was a major task! 
Q. What is involved when you go about founding your own non-profit organisation?
A. Because I’d worked in the government, I saw the need to build a link between academic, governmental and social institutions, to be able to generate real results in conservation. So I decided that forming a hands on, on-the-ground, innovative entity was the best way to generate these results. From this vision emerged the RAZONATURA Collective. What does the name mean? “Colllective” (in reference to doing things collectively, together and with all stakeholders); “RAZONA” (employing science); and “NATURA” (in harmony with Nature).
Q. Can you ‘free’ dive? Tell us a bit about free diving?
A. I’ve experienced free diving when searching for lobsters under reefs with local lobster fishermen.  They come from the cooperatives that work in the Banco Chinchorro and Sian Ka’an Marine Protected Areas and free dive while carrying out their lobstering activities; it’s how they make their living.  Some of them can go down to 25-30 meters before beginning their search for lobsters, which requires a lot of training and lung capacity. When skimming through Caribbean waters, you leave your life’s problems on land. Viewing flora and fauna underwater captures your attention to a degree that sometimes you forget to go up for a breath!
Q. What was your goal when joining the MAR Leadership program?
A. To meet colleagues who work in the region, learn from them and find some potential collaboration opportunities. Scaling up what we have learned in our own country to a wider regional level will have a huge effect on conservation and conservationist connectivity. Oceanic species don’t respect borders and we need to follow their lead!
Q. Tell us what your MAR Leaders project is all about?
A. My project seeks to build on the community work already begun in the Banco Chinchorro and Sian Ka’an biosphere reserves to establish a monitoring and management program in fishery reserves within reef and fishing zones (including marine grass pastures). The strategy is to encourage the natural recuperation of lobster populations, fish and their ecosystem relationships.
Q. What will you do at the end of your MAR Leadership Program?
A. A post-program goal of mine is to unite stakeholders, NGOs and institutions that are currently conducting spiny lobster monitoring programs in the MBRS—as part of inter-institutional conservation and research projects—under a sustainability framework that includes ecological, environmental and socioeconomic indicators.
Q. What is the best place you’ve ever travelled to and why?
A. There are many magical places that have given me different gifts, in different moments of my life. I loved Africa for its people, Asia for its food and Brazil for its music, people and culture. Underwater, the great Barrier Reef was amazing, whilst the jungles, forests and deserts of Mexico have granted me some of my best spiritual moments, comparable to being at the Petra Temples in Jordan or Tikal’s Mayan Pyramids in Guatemala and the Calakmul Ruins in Mexico.

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