List of WCS Marine Programs

Marine Programs

Africa 

Kenya

• Conservation research on Kenya's coral reefs Tim McClanahan
• Integrating adaptive management techniques into Kenya's marine reserve management system Tim McClanahan

Madagascar and Gabon

• Improving the monitoring and management of the Masoala marine parks.  Simon Harding, Bemahafaly Randriamantsoa (Madagascar) 
• Development of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan for Antongil Bay, Madagascar. Bemahafaly Randriamantsoa,  Simon Harding (Madagascar)
• Developing conservation strategies for the shark fishery of Antongil Bay. Mananjo Jonahson (Madagascar)
• Investigating the fish diversity and marine ecology of the Sahamalaza Biosphere Reserve. Herilala Randriamahazo,Bemahafaly Randriamantsoa (Madagascar)
• An integrated approach to Humpback whale and marine mammal research and conservation: Photographic identification, conservation genetics, acoustics, GIS analysis and satellite telemetry. Howard Rosenbaum, Peter Ersts, Yvette Razafindrakoto, Solange Nguessono, Cristina Pomilla (Madagascar and Gabon)
• Developing sustainable conservation-oriented whale watching.  Howard Rosenbaum, Yvette Razafindraktoto, Solange Nguessono, Vanessa Rasoamampianina (Madagascar and Gabon) 
• The impact of hunting and incidental catch of small cetaceans in western Madagascar. Howard Rosenbaum, Yvette Razafindrakoto, Norbert Andrianarivelo (Madagascar)

Asia

India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand

• Feasibility assessment for establishing a long-term site-based program and protected area for dolphin conservation in the upper reaches of the Ayeyarwady River. Brian Smith (Myanmar)
• Training for South Asian Scientists and an Assessment of Coastal Cetacean Populations in the Bay of Bengal. Brian Smith 
• Strengthening dolphin conservation activities in the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary. Brian Smith (India)
• Investigating the status and ecology of Ganges river dolphins Platanista gangetica and Irrawaddy dolphins Orcaella brevirostris in the Sundarbans Delta. Brian Smith (India and Bangladesh)
• Development of a training manual on research techniques for conserving cetaceans and sirenians in developing countries. Brian Smith (Thailand)
• Assessing the status of Irrawaddy dolphins and developing an action plan for their conservation in Songkhla Lake. Brian Smith (Thailand)

Indonesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea

• Rebuilding effective marine management at Karimunjawa National Park. Stuart Campbell, Joni Wibowo (Indonesia) 
• Socioeconomic aspects of traditional coral reef management in Papua New Guinea. John Ben, Helen Perks (Papua New Guinea)
• Development of a training program for marine scientists and coral reef conservation. Helen Perks (Papua New Guinea)
• Conservation of the Lomaviti Sea scape. Kathy Walls, Etika Rupeni (Fiji)

The Caribbean and Mesoamerica

Belize

• Development of monitoring techniques for marine reserves and a long-term atoll monitoring program for Glover's Reef. Charles Acosta (Belize)
• Coral reef and algae population dynamics and reef restoration: understanding the influence of nutrients and organic matter on reef erosion and algal growth. Tim McClanahan, Brie Cokos (Belize)
• Conservation of Nassau grouper spawning aggregations. Enric Sala, Enric Ballesteros, Rick Starr (Belize)
• Regional marine conservation and policy development. Janet Gibson (Belize)
• Spatial conservation database for Glovers Reef Marine Reserve. Peter Mumby, Henk Renken (Belize)
• Glovers Reef living seascape: safeguarding marine resources and rural livelihoods in Belize. Janet Gibson, Caterina D’Agrosa (Belize)
• Conservation of large, highly mobile fish populations. Rachel Graham (Belize)

Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Venezuela

• Monitoring and characterizing hawksbill sea turtle nesting populations, foraging aggregations, and migratory patterns through beach surveys, satellite tagging, and mark/recapture. Cynthia Lagueux and Cathi Campbell (Nicaragua)
• Mark/recapture study and genetic stock assessment of hawksbill nesting populations and green, hawksbill, and loggerhead foraging aggregations. Cynthia Lagueux, Cathi Campbell (Nicaragua)
• Hawksbill turtle population recovery in the Comarca Ngöbe-Bugle Chiriqui Beach/Escudo de Veraguas and the Bastimentos Island National Marine Park. Anne and Peter Meylan (Panama)
• Ecology and migration of Bocas del Toro sea turtles. Anne and Peter Meylan (Panama)
• Marine and coastal conservation in Cuba. Chuck Carr, Rachel Graham, John Thorbjarnarsen (Cuba)
• Coral reef ecology conservation in the Caribbean. Bob Steneck, Tim McClanahan (Belize, Venezuela)

Global

• ISACH: A coordinated regional effort and advanced database for humpback whale conservation. Howard Rosenbaum, Peter Ersts, Ken Findlay (Indian and South Atlantic oceans)
• Determining conservation units and species/population relationships among humpback dolphins throughout their range. Howard Rosenbaum, S. Glaberman, T. Jefferson, T. Collins, G. Minton, V. Peddemors, R. Baldwin (Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans)
• Conservation genetics of small populations of baleen whales in the northern Indian Ocean. Howard Rosenbaum, Gianna Minton, Tim Collins, Rob Baldwin (Oman and Northern Indian ocean) 
• The role of genetic diversity in the recovery of the highly endangered north Atlantic and north Pacific right whale. Howard Rosenbaum (North Atlantic and north Pacific oceans)
• Bowhead whale genetic diversity and population structure: an exploration of human and climate induced changes in genetic variation. Howard Rosenbaum and George Amato (North Atlantic and north Pacific oceans)
• An investigation of the responses of coral reefs to global climate change Andrew Baker (Brazil, Madagascar, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Belize, Australia) 

• Developing an open ocean conservation area for the protection of marine mammals and sea birds:  A Park of Sea and Sky. Claudio Campagna Caterina D’Agrosa, Valerie Falabella  (Argentina)
• Development of a protocol for interaction among fisheries stakeholders that promotes co-management. Lobo Orensanz (Argentina)
• Exploring sustainable options for the management of Patagonian coastal benthic fisheries. Lobo Orensanz, Ana Parma (Argentina)
• Blue whale ecology and conservation in coastal productive areas off Chile. Rodrigo Hucke-Gaete (Chile)