version 1.1 5/16/2013
I. ABSTRACT
Coral reefs are among the Earth’s most beautiful, ancient and complex ecosystems. Reef systems are essential in sustaining life in the sea and along the coastline. Healthy coral reefs are some of the most biologically diverse and economically valuable ecosystems on earth, providing food, jobs, recreation, pharmaceuticals, coastal protection and other important functions to virtually everyone on the planet.
Coral reefs are necessary for the formation of tropical islands and their surrounding beaches. Fringing reefs protect shorelines from storms, surges and erosion. Coral reefs provide a rich and complex habitat for a phenomenal variety of aquatic creatures, similar to the role tropical rainforests play on land.
Today, coral reefs are in serious decline. A fifth of the world’s reef systems have been destroyed in the last 50 years and more than half of the remaining reefs are seriously threatened with extinction within the next 30 years. Hawaii’s coral reefs have been recently degraded by a number of factors. Pollution, sedimentation, coastal development and a variety of unsustainable human activity all contribute to stress our reefs and make them susceptible to disease and degradation. A rampant cyanobacteria is currently ravaging Kauai’s reefs at an alarming rate.
The ancient Hawaiians understood the complex web of life that was their island home. Their sustainable society, living in harmony with their environment for over 1000 years, is unique in all of human history. We are working to revive this Hawaiian ancient wisdom and combine it the modern scientific methods to restore our reefs to their original pristine nature. Our prime mission is educating children of all ages to become responsible stewards of our island home.
II. ORGANIZATION
Underwater2Web (U2W) is dedicated to raising community awareness of the issues facing Hawaiian coral reefs, and educating the next generation to become responsible stewards of our environment. This entails providing concise, current, information through a variety of media; Internet, television, DVDs, radio, newspapers, theaters, as well as teaching classes, giving talks, leading field trips and delivering multi-media presentations.
Underwater2Web (U2W) was founded in 2003 by marine biologist, Terry Lilley. Terry, a gifted public speaker, is uniquely qualified to carry out the mission of U2W. Terry started surfing as a young child, and began scuba diving soon after. He feels a special affinity for the sea and all its creatures. Besides his degree in Biology, Mr. Lilley was also fortunate enough to learn the fundamentals of environmental law from Craig Potter, the author of the landmark Endangered Species Act.
Terry Lilley has also completed the ancient Hawaiian Huna training. He speaks to the creatures of the reef and understands the flow of life-giving water from the mist-covered peak of Wai’ale’ale down to ocean and his beloved reefs. U2W’s mission is to restore this ancient wisdom to the Kama‘aina.
Perhaps most importantly, Terry is an avid videographer. In the last decade, Terry has documented virtually every one of his dives in high definition video. His library of thousands of hours of video encompasses ten years of documenting Hawaiian reefs and hundreds of species of Hawaiian reef fish, as well as several exotic dive and surf locations around the world. This library provides an extensive source of content for a variety of undersea and surfer themed content.
Technical Contacts
Dr. Greta Aeby at the University of Hawaii greta@hawaii.edu
Dr. Thierry Work at the USGS thierry_work@usgs.gov
Dr. Bernardo Vargas Angel at NOAA bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov
III. PROGRAMS
U2W-001 REEF MONITORING & EDUCATION
Cost: $272,500 annually
Status: Ongoing (since 2003)
Background
The core program of U2W involves physically monitoring the overall health of the local reef systems. Terry Lilley dives almost daily, providing current up-to-date reef conditions. U2W has been documenting 60 different dive sites in Hawaii for the past decade using high definition video. The raw video is edited into educational films, video articles and news segments designed to inform the public on various aspects of marine ecology. This information is uploaded to the web and social media, published in DVD format, distributed to the local newspaper and TV news stations, and provided personally by Terry in the form of radio programs, public lectures, informal field-trips, movie nights and other public events.
Until recently, Kauai’s reefs were relatively healthy. However, in 2009, U2W discovered an outbreak of white coral disease on Kauai’s north shore. U2W has been continuously monitoring this disease since its discovery.
In August of 2012, the spread of this coral disease accelerated to an alarming rate. UH Manoa and USGS sent a rapid-response team to Kauai to investigate. Dr. Thierry Work, head of Infectious Disease at USGS, declared the north shore of Kauai a “coral disease epidemic”. NOAA took charge as the lead agency and in May of 2013, sent a dive team to survey Kauai’s north shore reefs to quantify the extent of the disease.
Since last summer, U2W activities have been almost exclusively focused on this disease afflicting Kauai’s coral. U2W created a website specifically to provide current updates on this epidemic to the world’s scientific community as well as the general public. ( hawaii-reef.com ) U2W worked closely with the rapid-response team to implement their experiments and shared data with the NOAA dive team with their recent reef survey. U2W provided UH Manoa with archival video of the reefs that were used to trace the disease’s pathology back to 2005.
U2W continues to monitor the incidence and spread of this disease and provide updates. Terry recently gave a well-attended lecture in Princeville on Kauai’s coral disease Coral Disease Talk as well as ongoing radio interviews on local stations. U2W premiered a short film in Honolulu last April to raise awareness of coral reef issues among the surfing community. Under the Surf (Surf Movie)
Project
Funding this program will allow U2W to continue with our reef education activities. No equipment purchases are required; the funding provides for the test kits, laboratory services and the personnel to monitor the reef and collect samples. The funding will also pay for initially training personnel in approved sampling protocols.
U2W can continue to produce and distribute monthly videos featuring the many unique and interesting creatures that inhabit the undersea world. U2W will continue to monitor the spread of coral disease and to disseminate this information. U2W will continue to work closely with government, scientific and educational institutions to understand and control this disease.
This funding also allows U2W to expand its activities to monitor the coral disease at 10-20 hotspots on a monthly basis. In addition to a comprehensive video survey of the site, U2W will perform transect surveys and chemical testing of the water and sediment at each location. U2W will test for heavy metals, atrazine, dioxin and bacteria. The data will be uploaded to the web and distributed via existing media channels.
Resources
U2W already has the basic equipment required to achieve the goals of this program. We have the video cameras/underwater housings, dive gear, kayaks, computers and software. We also have donated office space strategically located at the Hanalei River mouth, and the use of the boat launch.
Terry Lilley and the work of U2W are enthusiastically endorsed by the individuals heading the various task forces investigating this disease, from UH Manoa, USGS and NOAA. These agencies all support our work to explain the science of this disease to the public. U2W is currently talking with Test America regarding discounted testing services, as well as local training in the sampling protocol.
This program has been privately funded for the past 10 years, unfortunately that funding has now been exhausted. U2W is exploring avenues of funding and other assistance from non-profits and various commercial endeavors, as well as concerned individuals.
U2W-001
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Personnel Budget ($150,000/year)
Lead Diver / Biologist / Videographer $60,000
Film Producer / Editor $30,000
Web Developer $30,000
Sound Engineer $30,000
Equipment Budget ($0)
Outside Services ($122,500/year)
Water Quality Kits / Testing $120,000
Dive Tank filling $ 2,500
Start-up Cost $0
Annual Cost $272,500
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OD-001 OCEAN DEFENDER ~ KAUAI REEF PROJECT
Cost: $6,000 start-up / $370,000 annually
Status: Launching, Seeking Funding
Background
This program is an expansion of the coral disease hotspot monitoring plan outlined in the reef monitoring program above. U2W is working with Ocean Defender Foundation on this project along with volunteer divers to monitor between 40-100 sites monthly. This plan effectively covers Kauai’s shoreline, and will provide an initial snapshot of the spread of this disease.
Project
Initially, teams of divers will conduct preliminary surveys of the island’s reef systems, documenting the occurrence of disease at each of Kauai’s reef systems using digital cameras. Images will be posted online, and coordinated using Google maps. U2W, working along with NOAA will review the data and then select which hotspots of disease outbreaks to monitor.
Divers will be trained in sampling and monitoring protocol to assure a consistent sampling methodology. Training may also be required for additional divers performing transect surveys.
U2W will perform a comprehensive video survey at each hotspot; along with transect surveys to count outbreak density and chemical testing of the water and sediment at each location. The data will be uploaded to the web and distributed via existing media channels.
Resources
U2W already has the basic equipment required to perform video surveys and publish the content; video cameras/underwater housings, dive gear, kayaks, computers and software. We also have donated office space strategically located at the Hanalei River mouth, and the use of the boat launch. U2W was also donated the use of a dive boat; however the drive system requires modification for river launching.
Ocean Defender has committed the use of their sailboat for 3 months. By June, it will be moored in Hanalei Bay and serve both as a dive boat, and as short-term accommodations for volunteer divers. Ocean Defender has a large world-wide environmentally-active following, many of them divers and sailors willing to volunteer their time to help Hawaii’s coral reefs.
Terry Lilley and the work of U2W are enthusiastically endorsed by the individuals heading the various task forces investigating this disease, from UH Manoa, USGS and NOAA. These agencies all support our work to explain the science of this disease to the public. U2W is currently talking with Test America regarding discounted testing services, as well as local training in the sampling protocol.
OD-001
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Personnel Budget ($130,000/year)
Lead Diver / Biologist / Videographer $60,000
2nd Diver $20,000
3rd Diver $20,000
Film Producer / Editor $15,000
Web Developer $15,000
Equipment Budget ($6,000)
Dive Tank Air Compressor $ 6,000
Outside Services ($240,000/year)
Water Quality Kits / Testing $240,000
Start-up Cost $ 6,000
Annual Cost $370,000
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OD-002 OCEAN DEFENDER ~ REEF SURVEY TEAM
Cost: $60,000
Status: Launching 6/1/2013
Background
This program is a quick-response plan to get flippers in the water by June 1st, 2013, gathering data about the prevalence of a white coral disease all along Kauai's and Niihau's coastlines. Last summer, the outbreak of this disease accelerated rapidly during the summer months, causing the USGS to declare an epidemic. Dive surveys by U2W indicate that Kauai's rice corals are again being ravaged by this disease at an alarming rate, unprecedented anywhere in the world. U2W has also obtained evidence that the disease is spreading to other species of coral.
Project
Coral biologists from UH Manoa, NOAA and USGS will be coordinating efforts with Ocean Defender Foundation and U2W on this project along with a team of volunteer divers to begin monitoring operations. 8-10 divers will conduct a preliminary survey of the island’s reef systems, documenting the occurrence of disease at each of Kauai’s reef systems using digital cameras. Ocean Defender's vessel, the Morningstar, will sail to Hanalei Bay to provide a floating research center and accommodations for volunteer divers, as well as providing dive boat service for outlying locations. It will be re-fitted for this service.
U2W, working along with NOAA will review the data and then select hotspots of disease outbreaks for further monitoring. U2W will perform a comprehensive video survey at each hotspot; along with transect surveys to count outbreak density and chemical testing of the water and sediment at each location.
Resources
U2W already has the basic equipment required to perform video surveys and publish the content; video cameras/underwater housings, dive gear, kayaks, computers and software. We also have donated office space strategically located at the Hanalei River mouth, and the use of the boat launch.
Ocean Defender has committed the Morningstar for 4 months. From 6/1 to 9/15, it will be moored in Hanalei Bay and serve both as a dive boat, and as short-term accommodations for volunteer divers. Ocean Defender has a large environmentally-active following, many of them divers and sailors willing to volunteer to help Hawaii’s coral reefs.
Dr. Greta Aeby at the University of Hawaii greta@hawaii.edu
Dr. Thierry Work at the USGS thierry_work@usgs.gov
Dr. Bernardo Vargas Angel at NOAA bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov
OD-002
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Personnel Budget ($20,000)
Coral Biologist / Project Lead $10,000
Lead Diver / Videographer $5,000
Film Producer / Editor $3,500
Web Developer $1,500
Crew volunteer
Dive Team volunteer
Equipment Budget ($12,300)
Dive Tank Air Compressor $ 6,000
Dive Ladders / Hardware $ 1,800
Miscellaneous Dive Gear $ 4,500
Outside Services ($27,700)
Harbor Fees (4 months) $3,200
Fuel $2,700
Refitting (labor) $1,800
Vessel Maintenance $20,000
Project Cost $60,000
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U2W-003 SOUNDSTAGE / GREENSCREEN
Cost: $7,700
Status: ready to launch, seeking funding
Background
Obtaining a clean recording without distracting background noises is often a challenge when producing U2W films. For professional production values, a consistent sound quality, devoid of echoes and background noise is required.
Chroma-Keying allows multiple video overlays, and can be very effective in communicating technical information (e.g. TV weatherman). This feature adds a very useful effect to a filmmaker’s toolbox.
Project
The objective of this project is to convert a 40ft shipping container into a sound stage for U2W. The actual acoustically insulated section will be 20 feet long, with an ante-room in the front, separated by a sound-proofed door. The sound stage will be air conditioned, with a roll-up chroma-key screen mounted on one of the walls.
Resources
The use of a 40 foot container was donated to U2W to convert into the sound stage. The container is ideally located near the mouth of the Hanalei River. Electrical hook-ups are also provided as part of the donation by the Hanalei River Heritage Foundation.
U2W-002
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Personnel Budget ($0)
Equipment Budget ($5,700)
24 Channel Digital Multi-track recorder $ 500
Microphones (2) / Stands $ 500
Chroma Key (Green Screen) $ 750
Anechoic Foam Panels $ 1,200
Lumber / Wallboard / Paint / Hardware $ 1,000
Air Conditioning Unit $ 900
Lighting / Wiring $ 850
Outside Services ($2,000)
Construction $ 2,000
Total Cost $ 7,700
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