Islands, Oceans and Sustainability
Marine Protected Areas and Reef Ecology -- Ecology/Geography

FALL SEMESTER

Academic Focus

Island communities are on the front line of the ecological impact of marine resource depletion and the crashing of global fish stocks. This course examines islands, focusing on the human communities that depend on fishing and on reef ecology.

The field study will be in the Adang Archipelago National Marine Park in the Andaman Sea, Southwest Thailand. The area is a breeding ground essential to the conservation of the biodiversity of Southeast Asian seas and for the sustainability of regional fisheries. For the last century, the Adang Archipelago has also been a home of the Urak Lawoi, a formerly semi-sea nomadic people. The case represents a complex situation--multiple and often conflicting resource uses in a marine protected area, rapidly changing ways of life for the island people, and significant changes in their relationships with natural resources.

Learning outcomes

• Understanding of the key issues concerning the sustainability of island environments and cultures
• Understanding the biological processes within marine ecosystems with particular knowledge of significant fish, reef and coral ecology
• Understanding of local knowledge related to fish and fishing as well as understanding of the links between island culture and marine resource utilization
• Understanding of the social dynamics related to marine ecology and island resource conservation and development (e.g. ethnic culture, tourism, commercial fishing, national park conservation)
• Ability to successfully carry out the essential technical skills related to the studies of marine ecology, including sea kayaking and skin-diving
• Geographical field survey methods, especially as related to marine ecology and island environment
• Comparative field marine biology survey methods for coral reefs
• Sociological survey methods, including competency in island-level surveys of stakeholders (e.g. resort owners, tourists, park officials, and local fishermen)
• Understanding the peoples' socio-economic as well as cultural adaptations within the island environment and with the exposition to the outside forces
• Proficiency with the tools of field research and expedition skills such as using a GPS during kayaking and island survey
• Proficiency in marine/island navigation, including use of tide charts, GPS and related skills
• Ability to identify significant reef species (vertabrates and invertabrates) and corals

Experiential Field Study Components

Transects of island resources, on-site studies of traditional foraging sites, extensive studies of reef and coral ecology (snorkeling and skin-diving), work with local people on understanding local knowledge and concepts related to fish and fishing.

Living situation

Basic guest house accomodations (limited number of days), extensive beach camping.

Modes of travel

Fly/Train/Van to site, small boat (longtail), sea kayak.

Location(s)

Adang Archipeligo, Satun Province (Tarutao, Adang, Rawi and Lipe islands).