Kino Bay Marine Conservation Classes
The previous semester, Prescott College students had the unique opportunity to dive deep into the complexities of marine conservation in the Gulf of California at the Kino Bay Center. After studying marine conservation theory in Arizona, the class, led by Alumni Greg Smart delved into community-based case studies. They engaged with local fishers, learned different fishing techniques, and discussed their observations with resource users, researchers, and managers. They visited a shrimp farm, took a trip aboard a shrimp trawler, visited the island of San Pedro Martir and participated in a mangrove reforestation project, among other immersive experiences, all while exploring the delicate balance between marine conservation and community livelihoods. In the next phase of the class they worked with Lorayne and Kino Bay Center program staff to do applied conservation projects that contribute to the Kino Bay Center’s work.
Their final projects were exceptional and diverse, integrating science, art, communication, and community work:
- Tyr Carrier, Habitat mapping and behaviors of Bottlenose Dolphin in the Canal del Infiernillo (Mentor, Héctor Pérez Puig)
- Keriann Cooper, Documenting and sharing Comcaac traditional ecological knowledge about the Craveri’s Murrelet (Mentors, Lauren Dolinski, Luis Moreno, Alexandra Edwards)
- Delphine Demaisy, Habitat description of fin whales through behavioral mapping (Mentor, Héctor Pérez Puig)
- Iliana Dempsey-Hewett, Community-based insights and solutions for sustainable crab fishing in Laguna la Cruz (Mentors, Crisol Méndez and Lorayne Meltzer)
- Seth Gardner, Installation of water conservation measures at the Kino Bay Center (Mentor, Edgar Magdaleno)
- Marina Fabris and Raya Sol Searls, Educational and interactive mural on the 5 sea turtle species in the Gulf of California in Collaboration with Grupo Tortuguero de Bahía de Kino (Mentor, Grisel Heredia)
- Ali Kimball, Kino Bay Center’s Marine Mammal Monitoring program- a look into marine conservation through film (Mentor, Lorayne Meltzer)
- Kathy Tran, Informative poster of Craveri’s Murrelets life cycle and ecological threats during the breeding season (Mentors, Lauren Dolinski, Aly
