Network Members

U.S. Virgin Islands Education and Outreach Coordinator, Kitty Edwards, and her colleagues needed help to address some of the big threats to V.I. reefs, like irresponsible development and lethal stony coral tissue loss disease. During a six-month mentorship with the Reef Resilience Network (that included training and graphic design support), Kitty developed outreach materials for local Senators promoting the value of coral reefs and highlighting actions they can take to help protect reefs within territorial waters. The infographic they created has been shared online and in-person with senators and other influential audiences through brochures, framed posters, and social media posts. In 2022, Kitty used the infographic to discuss key needs for corals with USVI Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (see photo). 

“Without the individualized support from the Network, we would not have had the capacity to develop these specialized outreach products within our own staff. These products are critical to engaging local senators on the importance of our reefs and actions they can take to help protect them.” —Kitty Edwards, Education and Outreach Coordinator, USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources.

“With Reef Resilience Network support, we developed plans to guide reef restoration efforts in Hawai‘i and engage stakeholders in these efforts. During Network workshops, we didn’t just talk about best practices, we worked on real plans that influenced our approach for reef restoration and outreach. The support we got from the Network is helping us ensure we use restoration best practices and effective stakeholder engagement as we work to enhance our reefs impacted by bleaching and other threats.” —Ryan Okano, Ecosystem Protection Program Manager, Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources

Researcher Thayná Mello applied what she learned from the Reef Resilience Network Wastewater Pollution Mentored Online Course to develop a water quality sampling program for Fernando de Noronha National Marine Park in Brazil. The 10,000+ hectare marine park is home to protected species of corals, turtles, and sharks, and boasts the best diving in Brazil. But the urban area near the park is a potential wastewater pollution threat. To understand the park’s water quality and potential threats, Thayná and her team sampled 17 sites inside and outside of the marine park investigating the quality of the water, sediment, and macroalgae.

“Preliminary results show that water quality in reef areas within the park is satisfactory and may indicate that coastal hydrodynamics are helping disperse sewage and other pollutants. Unfortunately, water quality outside of the park is below government standards, especially in areas close to discharge sites in the urban area. This indicates possible problems with the wastewater treatment process. Our next steps will be to complete the analyses and investigate if the quality of the marine environment is impacting the biological communities, like coral and fish.” —Thayná Mello, Researcher, Fernando de Noronha National Marine Park