Below please find the first full edited drafts
of Kona's Voluntary Standards


Kayaking Group
This draft will be available soon.


Wild Life Interactions
Draft
https://www.onlinefilefolder.com/2sUAT5b8NSkjZB

Dolphin Exclusion area maps

 Kealakakua
Area in Red = Desired zone
Area in Blue = OK zone
Area in Yellow = Too large

https://www.onlinefilefolder.com/2s7fANp2RQTUus

Honaunau

https://www.onlinefilefolder.com/2sL8CaNaInWFBq

Hookena

https://www.onlinefilefolder.com/2sI99sp06VDYcT

Makako

https://www.onlinefilefolder.com/2srLl8zsSHGrbb



General Boating

https://www.onlinefilefolder.com/2sIdXwcXAjEsSO


Scuba Diving and Snorkeling


https://www.onlinefilefolder.com/2snAQTcSjtfefr


Surf Schools and Rentals

https://www.onlinefilefolder.com/2s55LXeSNrtIDL


Shoreline Activities

https://www.onlinefilefolder.com/2sqfT24s32OPLI


Please provide comments by

1) Emailing Kara at:     Kara@KonaCPR.com

2.) Calling Kara at:            808-896-1889

3.) Leaving feedback on the Forum!

CORAL Forums

We will be starting the voting process soon! 

So please provide comment NOW as I know there are aspects of all drafts that still need some revision!






Voluntary Standards Hit The Front Page!

Voluntary rules sought for reef protection

by Carolyn Lucas
West Hawaii Today
clucas@westhawaiitoday.com
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 9:32 AM HST

Residents are beginning to create voluntary standards for recreational and commercial ocean activities to prevent overuse and misuse of coral reefs.

The effort is being facilitated by Coral Reef Alliance, a nonprofit organization that works with communities to identify and solve conservation challenges; change attitudes and behavior through education and training; provide resource to strengthen marine protected areas and create sustainable tourism incentives.

Involvement of various stake holders is needed for developing these standards, which have been deemed "needed" by some in the industry for years. Participants will serve as task force members and will use their expertise to identify and codify good environmental practices to be adopted by marine tourism providers and the public, said Kara Osada, Coral Reef Alliance Kona field coordinator.

Coral Reef Alliance wants diverse and balanced participation. It seeks marine recreation providers, nongovernmental agencies, resource managers, cultural groups, activity wholesalers and community members.

"The goal is to help preserve our reef's health in bringing operators from fishermen to whale watchers, snorkeling trips to aquarium collectors together to promote the health of Kailua-Kona's reefs," Osada said. "We hope that, by bringing these groups together to create voluntary standards, we will build a sense of pride and respect for our coral reef ecosystem so that operations are self regulating and supporting eco-friendly tourism."

Standards will be developed for: boating, wildlife interactions, scuba diving and snuba, snorkeling and spearfishing, and beachfront operations, such as gear rental providers, surf schools, canoe clubs and tours. The 10-member steering committee will guide the process, as well as review, modify and approve the voluntary practices.

Following development, the guidelines will be field tested to determine if they are practical, feasible, affordable and attainable. Unlike regulations and laws, standards can be easily modified and adapted, said Liz Foote, Coral Reef Alliance Hawaii field manager.

According to Coral Reef Alliance, in areas with high volume tourism, repeated direct contact with the reef poses an immediate threat. Boat groundings and human interactions each year reduce sections of the reef and reduce its resilience to other stressors like diseases and rising sea temperatures.

Click Photo to Enlarge A dive guide demonstrates underwater interpretation as she shows divers a Leaf scorpionfish -and demonstrates how it moves. - Liz Foote | Coral Reef Alliance

The organization helped produce the publication, "Voluntary Standards for Marine Recreation in the Mesoamerican Reef System," which has reportedly made people more environmentally and safety conscious. For more than a year, Maui residents have been crafting standards. The process has increased awareness to sustainability issues and brought issues, such as fish feeding, to the forefront. This task force has chosen to have a Diver's Pledge, which makes promises like never to touch, handle, interfere with, stimulate or relocate marine life, Foote said.

While nonmandatory environmental briefings and guidelines exist, they vary among businesses and individuals. By formalizing standards and putting the decision-making into the hands of those directly affected, stewardship, ownership, acceptance and action should follow, Osada said.

"This is an opportunity for people to define the future of their industry, as well as ensure the health and sustainability of our reefs," Foote said.

Get Involved

Contact Kara Osada, Coral Reef Alliance Kona field representative, at 896-1889 or kara@konaCPR.com.