The Caribbean Coastal Data Centre CCDC

1
The Caribbean Coastal Data Centre - CCDC

The Caribbean Coastal Data Centre Regional data
archiving, information generation and
dissemination for sustainable management of
coastal resources
Dulcie M. Linton Caribbean Coastal Data
Centre Centre for Marine Sciences
2
MISSION

• Through sound management and effective
  dissemination of data and information on the
  Caribbean coastal and marine environment, to
  create an information-rich climate which fosters
  informed decision-making on the sustainable
  management and use of coastal and marine
  resources.

3
VISION

• to become a coastal and marine data archiving,
  management and access centre for the Caribbean
  region.
• to be a focal point for collaboration among
  national, regional and global monitoring groups
• to increase dissemination of data and information
  on the coastal zone.
• to become a part of a global data management and
  distribution network

4
Caribbean Coastal Data Centre - CCDC

• began in 1993 as the Data Management Centre of
  CARICOMP. Major functions
• data archival
• data analysis
• data dissemination via reports and summaries
• focal point for the CARICOMP network
• web page design development

5
CCDC Data Management Analyses

• Caricomp datasets since 1993 include
• Cover by benthic organisms on reef
• gt 100,000 records from 19 countries
• seagrass biomass, growth and leaf
• gt 10,000 records from 16 countries
• mangrove biomass and litterfall
• gt80,000 records from 1994
• temperature, salinity and light attenuation
• HoboTemp gt 800,000 records
• air temperature and rainfall gt 30,000 records
• coral disease/bleaching incidence

6
CCDC Database Design Development
7
CCDC Database Analyses
Sites located further north generally have
clearer waters
8
CCDC Data Dissemination
CCDCs website www.ccdc.org.jm
9
CCDC Links with other monitoring groups

• CPACC - 1998
• assisted with development of monitoring protocol
  for Component 5 Coral Reef
• provided operational logistical support for
  Data Analyst
• AGRAA, ReefCheck - 2000
• archives some AGRRA data

10
CCDC Links with GCRMN

• Established links with GCRMN in 2000
• coordinates the Northern Caribbean Atlantic
  node (NCA)
• archives data from the node
• archives ReefCheck data from other node countries
  e.g. Barbados, Cuba St. Lucia
• prepares report for the NCA on the Status of
  Coral Reefs in the member countries

11
CCDC Links with ReefBase Others

• sends summaries of CARICOMP data to ReefBase
  since 1998
• archives data from local monitoring
• Fishery survey from the Ocho Rios Marine Park
• Coral disease survey from Pigeon Island in the
  Portland Bight Protected Area of Jamaica
• Sea water quality data from Jamaicas north coast
  N, P conc. etc.

12
Northern Caribbean Atlantic Node of GCRMN

• 8 countries are involved
• The Bahamas, Bermuda
• Cayman Islands Cuba
• Dominican Republic Haiti
• Jamaica Turks Caicos Islands
• Funding through UNEP-CAR/RCU
• Assist in developing the node

13
Northern Caribbean Atlantic Node - Strengths

• Many institutions involved in coral reef
  monitoring, research and protection
• Capability to conduct research high level of
  scientific training
• Countries are dependent on the marine and coastal
  resources for their livelihood tourism,
  fisheries, coastal protection
• Awareness of the value of coastal resources
• Some countries have high capacity to monitor e.g.
  Cayman Islands, Bermuda

14
Northern Caribbean Atlantic Node - Weaknesses

• Limited funding for monitoring in most countries
• Limited infrastructure and human resource
• Over-dependence on coastal and marine resources
  may lead to over-exploitation e.g Haiti
• Institutions/organizations tend to work in
  isolation not much sharing of resources or
  experience
• Data and information usually in scientific format
  not easily used by non-scientists

15
Northern Caribbean Atlantic Node - Progress

• Letter of invitation
• Invites individuals, institutions, organizations
  to join the node - 50 packages sent out in
  February, 2003
• Questionnaire
• The status of monitoring in the country
• Reefs monitored
• Status of reefs
• Major stressors to reefs e.g. tourism,
  over-fishing, pollution
• Capacity of institution to monitor
• Capacity to monitor e.g. resources available
• Constraints to monitoring

16
Northern Caribbean Atlantic Node - Progress

• Questionnaire cond..
• Data available
• What data do you have? e.g. benthic cover,
  diseases
• Are you willing to submit data to CCDC
• What assistance do you need to submit data
• Memorandum of Understanding
• Commit to conducting monitoring and submitting
  data/information
• Commit to provide information for Status of
  Coral Reefs of the World Report

17
Northern Caribbean Atlantic Node - Progress

• To date
• Northern Caribbean Atlantic Node report
  submitted to GCRMN for the Status of Coral reefs
  of the World Report edited by Clive Wilkinson
• Definite links established in Turks Caicos,
  Bermuda, more institutions in Cuba
• 6 completed questionnaires
• 1 signed MOU
• Plans to visit Haiti in 2003 to conduct
  preliminary monitoring and basic training only
  country which has no data

18
Northern Caribbean Atlantic Node - Progress

• Future Plans
• Strategic Plan for the sustainability of the node
  is currently being developed
• Through the questionnaire identify assistance
  required by institution(s) and where practical
  assist by improving
• Monitoring
• Data management or analyses
• Data dissemination

19
CCDC - Strengths

• Part of the Centre for Marine Sciences, UWI
• Links with many institutions involved in coral
  reef monitoring throughout the region, e.g. BBSR,
  IMA, Bellairs
• Capability to conduct research scientific
  training
• Trained, multi-skilled staff
• Commitment to developing a regional data centre

20
CCDC - Future

• Increase funding
• increase staff complement and skills particularly
  with respect to use of GIS technology
• increase capacity
• increase profile of Centre
• Increase datasets to include a wider range of
  datasets already begun
• Increase collaboration with institutions/organizat
  ions at local, regional and global level
• Improve links with other data centres e.g
  ReefBase, NOAA

21
CCDC Centre for Marine Sciences, University of
the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica

• THANK YOU