"A Community-based Fish/Invertebrate Monitoring Plan for Coastal Marine Protected Area with Emphasis on MPAs in Seagrass Habitat" (Grant: NA07NMF4630092)

Palau International Coral Reef Center

This monitoring plan is intended for use in the monitoring of Ngelukes Conservation Area, Bkulangriil Conservation Area, Airai Reef Conservation Area, and Ngelukes Conservation Area. The monitoring method can be applied to other conservation areas, however, the monitoring design needs to be modified (where necessary to meet objectives of monitoring). Since January 2008, the Palau International Coral Reef Center has been working with State designated community/State people to train them on the monitoring of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). In this document Marine Protected Area = Conservation Area. The training included estimating the required area to count fish ( 25 m x 5 m), estimating fish size, counting fish abundance, and counting selected invertebrates. Following the training, the trained people accompanied PICRC research staff during quarterly monitoring for further training and participation in the monitoring activity. It was determined over a course of one year working with these selected people that they are now ready to conduct monitoring on their own.

FY2007 CRCP Project ID 1413; Project Title: General Coral Conservation Grants; Principal Investigator: Andy Bruckner. Grant: NA07NMF4630092

NA07NMF4630092