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Seagrass-Watch HQ

 

 

Seagrass-Watch HQ is based at the Northern Fisheries Centre in Cairns, Australia. Seagrass-Watch HQ is the core of the program. The role of Seagrass-Watch HQ is to develop scientifically rigorous assessment of seagrass resources, provide training, manage/validate/interpret the data, coordinate between communities and scientists, facilitate the establishment of networks and to continue the development and expansion of the program. Seagrass-Watch HQ also ensures the QAQC protocols for the program are followed and that the program is producing data of high quality, ensuring time and resources are not wasted.  For more information on the team click here.

   
Program Leader: Len McKenzie (Principal Scientist)
Scientists:

Richard Unsworth (Fisheries Biologist)

Jane Mellors (Fisheries Biologist)

Data Management:

Rudi Yoshida (Research Assistant)

Technical Assistance:

Naomi Smith (Technician)

Collaborative Scientists:

Michelle Waycott (Associate Professor, JCU, Townsville)

Rob Coles (DPI&F Senior Principal Scientist)
  CLICK HERE to read team profiles

 
 

Seagrass-Watch Local Coordinators

 

The main contact in each region is a Seagrass-Watch Local Coordinator who is a link in the information and data chain between local communities and Seagrass-Watch HQ. The Seagrass-Watch Local Coordinator is chosen by a group of volunteers, to act as their representative.

The role of the Local Coordinator is:

  • To be the main point of contact between the volunteer group and Seagrass-Watch HQ;
  • To ensure volunteers are suitably trained by Seagrass-Watch scientists or experienced representatives;
  • To organise the monitoring timetables and advise volunteers when monitoring is due;
  • To ensure all Seagrass-Watch program activities in the represented region, are completed in a safe and professional manner;
  • To ensure monitoring kits are maintained and audited on a regular basis;
  • To submit original data and photographs to Seagrass-Watch HQ;
  • To ensure the volunteer group has adequate insurance cover;
  • To play a lead role in applications for funding for the group represented;
  • To disseminate information from Seagrass-Watch HQ on the status of monitoring and seagrass resources in the region.

PLEASE NOTE: The Seagrass-Watch Local Coordinator is a volunteer position. 

The Local coordinator is not empowered to interpret the data on behalf of Seagrass-Watch. All data interpretation should be validated and reviewed by Seagrass-Watch HQ. This ensures that the interpretation of data is consistent, unbiased and of scientific merit. This also protects the Seagrass-Watch Local Coordinator from litigation should the information be of a sensitive or controversial nature.

 

Countries

Australia

Bangladesh

Caribbean

China

Eritrea

Federated States of Micronesia

Fiji Islands

India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Maldives, Republic of
Palau
Philippines
Papua New Guinea
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Thailand
Vietnam
   
  Other Registered groups
   

 

 
 
 

Seagrass-Watch Groups: Locations and Contacts

AUSTRALIA

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

NEW SOUTH WALES

  • Community Environment Network

: Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

QUEENSLAND

 

  • BOWEN

    We are currently looking for a local coordinator in BOWEN. Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ if you would like more information.

    Front Beach (Bowen) site coordinator (BW2):
    Lesley Bullemor

 
  • CAIRNS

    • Len McKenzie (DEEDI)

  • COOKTOWN

    Ms Christina Howley (CYMAG)

  • GLADSTONE

    Richard Unsworth (DEEDI)

    •  
  • GOLD COAST

    Daniela Wilken-Jones (Queensland Parks and Wildlife)

  • GREAT SANDY STRAIT

    Gordon Cottle (GSSFFW)

    • Reef Island, Browns Gutter & Boonooroo (Site coordinator)

    Kate Houley

    Tin Can Bay, Tinnanbar, Pelican Bay & Kauri Creek (Site coordinator)

    Carole and Neil Gillies

    Poona (Site coordinators)

    Robyn Bailey and Steve


  • HERVEY BAY

    • Trischelle Lowry (Hervey Bay Dugong and Seagrass Monitoring Program)


  • MACKAY

    We are currently looking for a local coordinator for this location. Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ if you would like more information.

  • MAPOON

    Cullen Point

    Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ

    •  
  • MISSION BEACH and CARDWELL

    Len McKenzie (DEEDI)

  • MORETON BAY

    Nick Hoffman (Queensland Parks and Wildlife )

  • NAPRANUM

    We are currently looking for a local coordinator for this location. Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ if you would like more information.

  • NOOSA

    Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ

     

  • SHOALWATER BAY

    Naomi Smith (DEEDI)

  • TORRES STRAIT

    Badu Island site coordinator (BD1)

    Troy Stow (Senior Ranger,TSIRC Badu)


    Thursday Island site coordinator (TI1 & TI2)
    Ann More (Tagai College Secondary Campus)

    Horn Island site site coordinator (HI1)
    Ann More (Tagai College Secondary Campus)

    Hammond Island site coordinator (HD1)

    Ann More (Tagai College Secondary Campus) .

    Mabuiag Island site coordinator (MG1)
    Terrence Whap (Mabuiag Island Regional Council)

    Mer Island site coordinator (MR1)

    Moses Wailu (Torres Shire Island Regional Coucil)

     

  • TOWNSVILLE

    We are currently looking for a local coordinator for Townsville. Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ if you would like more information.

    Shelly Beach site coordinator (SB1):

    Sue Mulvany (Townsville Seagrass Volunteers)

     

    Bushland Beach site coordinator (BB1):

    Jacky Stein. (Northern Beaches Rotary)

     

    Magnetic Island site coordinator (MI2):

    Dr Don Kinsey.  (University of the Third Age)

  • WHITSUNDAY

    • Jacquie Sheils (local coordinator)

    Hydeaway Bay site coordinator (HB1 & HB2)

    Maren Matthew (Whitsunday Volunteers)

    Midge Point site coordinator (MP2 & MP3)

    Paul and Jennifer Wenzler (Whitsunday Volunteers)

    Whitehaven Beach site coordinator (WB1, WB2, WB3)

    Tony Fontes (Order of Underwater Coral Heroes)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

  • ROEBUCK BAY

    Fiona Bishop (Broome Community Seagrass Monitoring Project)

VICTORIA

  • CORNER INLET

    Rebecca Koss (School of Ecology and Environment - Deakin University)

 

BANGLADESH

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

 

    Mowdudur Rahman Director (Centre for Coastal Environmental Conservation)

 

CARIBBEAN

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • St. Croix (US Virgin Islands)

    Dawn Cowie (The Nature Conservancy)

     

CHINA

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • Hepu County

    Professor Xioping Huang (South China Sea Institute of Oceanology)

     

ERITREA

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

Yossef Hiabu

 

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • KOSRAE

    Maxwell Salik (Department of Fisheries)

     

  • POHNPEI

    Conservation Society of Pohnpei

FIJI

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • CAWACI

    Masao (Yogi) Yoshida.

     

  • SUVA

    Posa Skelton (Seagrass-Watch Fiji local coordinator)

     

  • GAU

    Lesley Brown / Joeli Veitayaki (Frontier-Fiji)

     

  • CORAL COAST

    • We are currently looking for a site coordinator for this location. Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ if you would like more information.

ROTUMA

    Monifa Fiu (Ms) (LajeRotuma).

     

  • LAU GROUP

    • Monifa Fiu (Ms) (WWF Fiji Country Programme)

     

INDIA

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • GULF OF MANNAR

    K.R. Saravanan (Regional Ecology and Environmental Federation)

     

  • LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS

    Prabhakaran, M.P. (National Institute of Oceanography)


 

INDONESIA

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • BALI

    Stuart Campbell (WCS)

     

  • KOMODO

    We are currently looking for a local coordinator for this location. Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ if you would like more information.

  • KURIMUNJAWA

    Stuart Campbell (WCS)

  • MANADO

    Billy Wagey (Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Sam Ratulangi University).

JAPAN

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • OKINAWA

    Masahito Yoshida (Edogawa University)

MALAYSIA

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • SABAH

    Dewi Masayu Sugindi (Maktab Sabah, Kota Kinabalu).

     

  • JOHOR

    Choo Chee Kuang (Save Our Seahorses)

     

MALDIVES, Republic of

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • Lucy Gwen Gillis (Kuda Huraa)

    •  

PALAU

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • KOROR

    David Idip (Palau International Coral Reef Center)

 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • KAVIENG (NEW IRELAND)

    Jane Wia (WCS)

  • MADANG

    We are currently looking for a local coordinator for this location. Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ if you would like more information.

  • PORT MORESBY(Motupore Island)

    • We are currently looking for a local coordinator for this location. Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ if you would like more information.

     

PHILIPPINES

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • PUERTO GALERA

    Rochelle Balitaan (Puerto Galera)

     

  • PALAWAN(Roxas)

    Bella Sheila L. Albasin (WWF Philippines)

     

SINGAPORE

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

    Ria Tan (Wild Singapore/Team Seagrass)

     

SOLOMON ISLANDS

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • GIZO (WESTERN PROVINCE)

    Bruno Manele (WWF Solomon Islands)

     

  • TETEPARE ISLAND

    Katherine Moseby (Tetepare Descendants Association)

SPAIN

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • BARCELONA

    Pere Renom (Departament d'Ecologia, Universitat de Barcelona)

THAILAND

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • TRANG

    Chatcharee Supanwanid (Kasetsart University, Bangkok)

    •  
  • SONGKHLA (southern Thailand)

    Dr Anchana Prathep (Seaweed and seagrass Reserach Unit)

  • PHANG NGA

    Monica Aureggi (Naucrates - Onlus)

     

VIETNAM

To contact Local/site -coordinators in each region or location, please email Seagrass-Watch HQ

  • Gail Begbie
     

OTHER REGISTERED SEAGRASS-WATCH GROUPS

  • UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
    • James Cook University
    • Marine Science Institute (University of the Philippines)
    • Marine Group (University Malaysia Sabah)
    • Palau International Coral Reef Center

  • NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS
    • WWF South Pacific Programme (PNG, Solomon Islands & Fiji)
    • The Nature Conservancy (Komodo, Indonesia)
    • Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia (Karimunjawa)
    • Ailan Awareness (PNG)
     
  • GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
    • Queensland Dept Primary Industries & Fisheries
    • Kosrae Marine Resources Division (FSM)
    • Komodo Marine Parks
    • Queensland Parks & Wildlife
     
  • SCHOOLS
    • Belgian Gardens State School(Queensland)
    • Fraser Coast Anglican College (Queensland)
    • Yarrilee Primary School (Queensland)
    • Urangan State High School (Queensland)
    • Cooktown High School (Queensland)
    • Thursday Island High School (Queensland)
    • Far North Institute of TA.F.E. (Queensland)
    • Kosrae Elementary School (FSM)
    • Puerto Galera Academy (Philippines)
    • Mongop High School (Kavieng, PNG)
    • International Secondary School (Fiji)

     

     
 
 
 

Seagrass-Watch Groups and Funding

Each of the groups which participate in Seagrass-Watch are either incorporated or are under a local or state government organisation which covers liability insurance. For example, the QPWS Volunteer Rangers in the Whitsunday’s are covered under QPWS, Townsville-Thuringowa Seagrass-Watch is covered under the Conservation Volunteers, HBDSMP are covered under the Hervey Bay City Council and schools are covered by the Education Department.

The amount of funding required by a group to participate is dependent on several factors, and groups should evaluate their needs. Most of these needs are identified when designing the monitoring strategy, and may include a kit of equipment necessary for monitoring, funds to cover travel (eg. boat fuel) and funds to provide on-ground scientific support (this is currently limited).

Regular visits by Seagrass-Watch HQ or other scientists can be expensive and groups should consider mechanisms for autonomy without compromising data quality and data assurance. Scientific support is required for interpretation of the data and Seagrass-Watch HQ can provide regular feedback on the trends in seagrass meadow status and condition. Seagrass-Watch HQ also plays an important role in feeding information to relevant coastal management agencies.

For further information on applying for funding please visit :

 

 
 
 
 
Sponsors
Correct citation: McKenzie, LJ., Yoshida, RL. & Coles, RG. (2006 - 2010). Seagrass-Watch. www.seagrasswatch.org. 228pp. Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Queensland Government. Website designed by McKenzie, LJ., Yoshida, RL.
 
Seagrass-Watch HQ
Address: Northern Fisheries Centre
PO Box 5396
Cairns Qld 4870
Phone: [07] 40 350 100
Email: hq@seagrasswatch.org