Meet the current Coral Reef Management Fellows. Archives for previous fellowship terms and a news section are also available below.
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American Samoa
American Samoa is the only jurisdiction to identify population pressure as a key threat to local coral reefs. Rapid growth has been followed by increased coastal development and land-based pollution, both threats to coral reefs. Alyssa Edwards is currently working with the Coral Reef Advisory Group's Population Pressure Local Action Strategy team, which consists of representatives from several local agencies. Alyssa assists in the coordination of this body to tackle the issue of population pressure in American Samoa.
Over the coming months, Alyssa will be developing support materials and assisting with the preparation and planning for a number of scheduled summits which will raise the profile of the population pressure issue to the highest level of government in advance of local elections.
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Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
One of the biggest threats to the coral reefs in the CNMI is land based pollution. Kathleen Herrmann is undertaking watershed planning in partnership with the local agencies. She will work to strengthen local watershed efforts, such as the Talakahaya Watershed Project on the island of Rota.
Kathleen is also participating in a number of education and outreach efforts, including assisting with developing public service announcements, editing articles for the local newspaper, helping plan a marine science high school summer course, and judging the Talakhaya Watershed Science Fair. She will also be coordinating a local education and outreach capacity-building effort with Conservation International.
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Guam
Elaina Todd is working with the Guam Department of Agriculture's Division of Aquatics & Wildlife Resources. She will be focusing most of her time towards promoting awareness for Guam's marine preserves and developing positive relationships with local communities through outreach efforts.
Elaina is coordinating meetings with key individuals in the community to discuss fisheries issues and concerns and to gain a better understanding of the current perceptions that users have of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These meetings will help to build trust between constituents and managers and also to inform the process for designing a new strategy for a targeted marketing campaign which will promote the benefits of the MPAs on the island.
Elaina is also co-coordinating the Conservation Action Planning Team for the village of Piti by supporting the development and implementation of a management plan for the village.
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Hawai`i
Petra MacGowan continues to manage several different projects in Hawai`i's Division of Aquatic Resources. In addition to processing management grants and coordinating Hawai`i's Local Action Strategies, she serves as coordinator for the Coral Reef Outreach Network (CRON). CRON works to raise general public awareness of the importance and interconnectedness of the coral reef ecosystems to Hawai`i's lifestyle, and to teach and encourage positive behaviors that will protect and nurture this life-giving natural resource.
Petra also works with state partners to coordinate Makai Watch, a program where Hawai`i's coastal communities work directly with resource managers to conduct monitoring, outreach and voluntary compliance activities. Petra is working to formalize the program in the Department of Land and Natural Resources and provide standardized training programs and guidelines for participating community volunteers.
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Puerto Rico
Raimundo Espinoza, Puerto Rico 2008-2010 As the Coral Reef Management Fellow for the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) of Puerto Rico, Raimuindo is working on Puerto Rico's Local Action Strategies to reduce identified ecosystems stressors. He will concentrate his efforts on land-based sources of pollution and lack of awareness in Puerto Rico. He will begin by collaborating with the Center for Watershed Protection and other key DNER personnel in the creation of a watershed management plan for the Guánica State Forest.
Raimundo is also assisting in the development of a much needed education program for the Guánica State Forest and has started a reusable bag campaign to be launched later this year during the Guánica State Forest's "Natural Trail Awareness Day". He will also be updating and managing the DNER Coral Reef Program's website.
Raimundo will play an active role in addressing recreational overuse and misuse in mangroves and on coral reefs. Projects include the construction of a boat ramp in Las Crayolas to reduce illegal unloading and docking of small vessels, and a mooring buoy installment program in Cayos de Caña Gorda.
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U.S. Virgin Islands
Karlyn Langjahr is currently serving as the Education & Outreach Coordinator for the St. Croix East End Marine Park (EEMP). Her enthusiasm and sincere desire to promote ocean conservation make her an excellent spokesperson for the park. One of her many duties includes coordinating the Virgin Islands Network of Environmental Educators (VINE). VINE strives to build capacity for environmental and cultural education within the Virgin Islands. Karlyn recently planned and conducted a well attended workshop with participants from both the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands, and is planning a second capacitybuilding workshop to strengthen the partnership between VINE and the Virgin Islands Department of Education.
Karlyn also serves as the Committee Chair for the International Year of the Reef (IYOR) efforts in St. Croix. The committee has been working to plan monthly IYOR activities within the community such as a fish fry with local fishermen to promote "healthy reefs for healthy livelihoods." Karlyn is also conducting socioeconomic surveys on the EEMP and will be presenting a poster at the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium in July.
- 2005 - 2007 Project Summaries (pdf, 30 kb)
- 2003 - 2005 Project Summaries (pdf, 48 kb)
Coral Fellowship Newsletter
The Coral Fellowship Newsletter is a quarterly newsletter providing information about NOAA Coral Reef Management fellows and the fellowship program. This newsletter is published by the Coral Reef Conservation Program and celebrated its inaugural issue in January of 2008. It replaces Fellow News as the source of current events pertaining to the Coral Reef Management Fellowship.
- January 2009 issue (*pdf, 344 kb)
- October 2008 issue (*pdf, 414 kb)
- July 2008 issue (*pdf, 342.6 kb)
- April 2008 issue (*pdf, 397 kb)
- January 2008 issue (*pdf, 319 kb)
*If you require this newsletter in another format, please contact us.
Fellow News
Fellow News is a quarterly newsletter providing information about NOAA fellows and fellowship programs. Since April 2006, the Coral Reef Management Fellowship has been highlighted in each issue.
- October 2007 issue (pdf, 1.36 mb)
- July 2007 issue (pdf, 1.67 mb)
- April 2007 issue (pdf, 320 kb)
- January 2007 issue (pdf, 1.63 mb)
- October 2006 issue (pdf, 1.36 mb)
- July 2006 issue (pdf, 380 kb)
- April 2006 issue (pdf, 3.71 mb)
