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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.
Program Leader: Len McKenzie (Principal Scientist)
Scientists:

Jane Mellors (Fisheries Biologist)

Data Management:

Rudi Yoshida (Research Assistant)

Technical Assistance: Naomi Smith (Technician)
  Rebecca Bowie (Technician)
Collaborative Scientists:

Rob Coles (DPI&F Senior Principal Scientist)

Michelle Waycott (Senior Lecturer, JCU, Townsville)

Hugh Kirkman (Research Scientist) (Victoria, Australia)

 

 
 
 
 

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 copies of 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

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

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

 
  • CAIRNS

    • Len McKenzie (DPI&F)

    :Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

    Tom Collis (Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.


  • COOKTOWN

    Ms Christina Howley

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

 
  • GLADSTONE

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

    •  
  • GOLD COAST

    Lou Coles

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • GREAT SANDY STRAIT

    • Gordon Cottle (The Great Sandy Strait Fauna and Flora Watch )

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.


  • HERVEY BAY

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

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.


  • MACKAY

    Matt Bloor
    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

 
  • MISSION BEACH

    Len McKenzie (DPI&F)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • MORETON BAY

    • Lou Coles  (QPWS Moreton Bay Marine Park)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • NAPRANUM

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


  • NOOSA

    Lee King.

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • SHOALWATER BAY

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


  • TORRES STRAIT

    Jane Mellors (DPI&F Townsville)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.


  • 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)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

    Bushland Beach site coordinator (BB1):

    Jacky Stein. (Rotary Club)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

    Magnetic Island site coordinator (MI2):

    Dr Don Kinsey.  (University of the Third Age)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • WHITSUNDAY

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

    Hydeaway Bay site coordinator (HB1 & HB2)

    Maren Matthew (Whitsunday Volunteers)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

    Midge Point site coordinator (MP2 & MP3)

    Paul and Jennifer Wenzler (Whitsunday Volunteers)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

    Whitehaven Beach site coordinator (WB1, WB2, WB3)

    Tony Fontes (Order of Underwater Coral Heroes)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA

  • CORNER INLET

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

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

BANGLADESH

    Mowdudur Rahman Director (Centre for Coastal Environmental Conservation)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

 

CARIBBEAN

  • St. Croix (US Virgin Islands)

    Dawn Cowie (The Nature Conservancy)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

     

CHINA

  • Hepu County

    Professor Xioping Huang (South China Sea Institute of Oceanology)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

     

ERITREA

Yossef Hiabu

: Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

 

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA

  • KOSRAE

    Maxwell Salik (Department of Fisheries)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • POHNPEI

    Conservation Society of Pohnpei

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

FIJI

     
  • CAWACI

    Masao (Yogi) Yoshida.

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • SUVA

    Posa Skelton (Seagrass-Watch Fiji local coordinator)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • GAU

    Lesley Brown / Joeli Veitayaki (Frontier-Fiji)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • CORAL COAST

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

ROTUMA

    Monifa Fiu (LajeRotuma).

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • LAU GROUP

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

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

     

INDIA

  • GULF OF MANNAR

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

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS

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

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

 

INDONESIA

  • BALI

    Marthen Welly (TNC SEACMPA)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • KOMODO

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

  • KURIMUNJAWA

    Stuart Campbell (WCS)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.


  • MANADO

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

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

JAPAN

  • OKINAWA

    Masahito Yoshida (Edogawa University)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

MALAYSIA

  • SABAH

    Dewi Masayu Sugindi (Maktab Sabah, Kota Kinabalu).

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • JOHOR

    Choo Chee Kuang (Save Our Seahorses)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

     

MALDIVES, Republic of

  • Lucy Gwen Gills (Kuda Huraa)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

    •  

PALAU

  • KOROR

    David Idip (Palau International Coral Reef Center)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

  • KAVIENG (NEW IRELAND)

    John Aini (Ailan Awareness)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • MADANG

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

  • PORT MORESBY(Motupore Island)

    • Jane Wia (Motupore Island Research Centre)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

     

PHILIPPINES

  • PUERTO GALERA

    Rochelle Balitaan (Puerto Galera)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • PALAWAN(Roxas)

    Bella Sheila L. Albasin (WWF Philippines)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

     

SINGAPORE

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS

  • GIZO (WESTERN PROVINCE)

    Bruno Manele (WWF Solomon Islands)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

     

  • TETEPARE ISLAND

    Katherine Moseby (Tetepare Descendants Association)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

SPAIN

  • BARCELONA

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

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

THAILAND

  • TRANG

    Chatcharee Supanwanid (Kasetsart University, Bangkok)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

    •  
  • SONGKHLA (southern Thailand)

    Dr Anchana Prathep (Seaweed and seagrass Reserach Unit)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

  • PHANG NGA

    Monica Aureggi (Naucrates - Onlus)

    : Please contact Seagrass-Watch HQ for more information.

     

VIETNAM

 

OTHER REGISTERED SEAGRASS-WATCH GROUPS

  • 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)

  • 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
     
 
 
 

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., Mellors, JE & Coles, RG. (2006 - 2008). 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