Goals and Objectives

Coordinate a multitude of research, policy, and outreach activities in coordination with sanctuary staff. Work closely with the resource protection coordinator or other sanctuary staff to conduct and apply policy to better manage sanctuary resources. Research topics, write various documents, and conduct stakeholder outreach on a wide array of marine resource management issues, including but not limited to reducing the threat of ship strikes on endangered whales. Help foster productive relationships between the sanctuary office and state and federal agencies, academic institutions, and stakeholders.

Tasks

Tasks are based on the needs of the sanctuary office and are expected to vary seasonally and annually. Tasks are to include the following:

• Develop both short and long-term management measures, such as whale advisory zones and vessel speed reduction programs to reduce the ship strike threat to Endangered Species Act listed large whales in the Santa Barbara Channel region.
• Conduct and support research and monitoring activities, including vessel and aerial based monitoring.
• Author education and outreach materials for the maritime community, and other audiences.
• Process and create maps in ArcGIS for resource management applications, including marine mammal sightings maps during large cetacean season from sightings reported on two whale apps ‘SpotterPro’ and ‘WhaleAlert.’
• Support international policy processes to adjust ship lanes and create vessel speed reduction zones and areas to be avoided.
• Contribute to superintendent reports, CINMS annual operating plan, and other required reports, including compilation, information gathering, and document editing/formatting.
• Attend select meetings and conferences, to observe, learn, speak/present, and assist with follow-up actions.
• Attend select internal meetings for task coordination.

Goals and Objectives

Care for the captive white abalone, maintain the abalone aquarium system, conduct site visits to other facilities for collaboration and coordination purposes, and support research to enhance the success of outplanting white abalone into the wild.

Tasks

Captive breeding, rearing, monitoring, and maintenance of white abalone:

• Host and conduct captive breeding efforts to support the production goals of the white abalone captive breeding program;
• Maintain and monitor the health and development of captive-bred white abalone;
• Monitor and record holding conditions for captive-bred white abalone;
• Conduct research to enhance the success of outplanting white abalone into the wild;
• Conduct system maintenance and upgrades as needed;
• Report mortalities and, upon request, submit samples for necropsy to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife;
• Attend coordination meetings and conduct site visits to other facilities in the program, including BML and the four other Southern California facilities;
• Conduct site visits of other aquaculture facilities involved in breeding/rearing other species of Haliotis.

Goals and Objectives

Work within a team to develop web delivery infrastructure for SanctSound. The team is led by SanctSound’s ONMS lead and the project’s data lead from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, and includes additional experts contracted to ONMS and to NOAA’s IOOS program. Support prototype 1 delivery in September 2020, and work to incorporate user feedback through additional prototype deliverables in FY 2021 (see below).

Tasks

• Work with CINMS data specialist to implement web interface for general users to be introduced to the project. This component of the web portal is referred to as the “foyer”, and is not focused on data manipulation but on visually-compelling, well-organized and explained information to prepare the user for more data-exploration experience in the “house”, built by other members of the web team.
• Attend biweekly check-ins with “foyer” team to establish and track tasking
• Attend bimonthly check-ins with full web portal team to ensure continuity in products and exchange ideas.
• Attend select meetings (e.g., annual progress meeting April 2021) and present progress towards final deliverable to full project team.