The 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project: expeditions for exploration, discovery,
Location
The 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project brings tourists and locals together in both ‘hands-on” study of local coastal bottlenose dolphins while learning how to care, preserve and protect these magnificent mammals. The Project is the only on-going study of wild dolphins in the area and, perhaps, the only daily year-round study of wild dolphins involving the paying general public as “citizen scientists” in the United States. Tourist /local participation in our work results in valuable research data that is provided to resource managers, universities and other dolphin research organizations.
While searching for bottlenose dolphins, our three hour expeditions brings us into backwater estuaries, river and bays providing a broad array of other marine life and habitat. Sightings of manatee, sea turtles, bald eagles, osprey and many different kinds of wading birds are not uncommon. How all this fits together with the habitat is explained
by our Naturalists
Your idea
This will be the address used to plot your entry on the map.
Street Address
951 Bald Eagle Drive
City
Marco Island
State/Province
Florida
Postal/Zip Code
34145
Country
United States
Year innovation began
2006
Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant
Quality of tourist experience and benefit to tourists
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Indicate sector in which you principally work
Tourism-related business
Geographic location
Coast.
Plot your innovation within the Mosaic of Solutions
Main insight addressed
Education through hands-on experience
Name Your Project
The 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project: expeditions for exploration, discovery,
Describe Your Idea
The 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project brings tourists and locals together in both ‘hands-on” study of local coastal bottlenose dolphins while learning how to care, preserve and protect these magnificent mammals. The Project is the only on-going study of wild dolphins in the area and, perhaps, the only daily year-round study of wild dolphins involving the paying general public as “citizen scientists” in the United States. Tourist /local participation in our work results in valuable research data that is provided to resource managers, universities and other dolphin research organizations.
While searching for bottlenose dolphins, our three hour expeditions brings us into backwater estuaries, river and bays providing a broad array of other marine life and habitat. Sightings of manatee, sea turtles, bald eagles, osprey and many different kinds of wading birds are not uncommon. How all this fits together with the habitat is explained
by our Naturalists
Innovation
What is the goal of your innovation?
To engage tourists in daily, hands-on structured encounters with wild dolphins resulting in meaningful research for resource managers and institutions.
How does your approach support or embody geotourism?
The Southwest Florida Coast is aptly called Paradise by both visitors and locals. Rich in marine wildlife, protected islands and estuaries, it has been a place where, in the past, nature has remained relatively stable. Two factors that are /will effect this Paradise, specifically 1.) dramatic increases in population and construction and its effects and 2.) climate change.
Additionally, today’s generations are far more aware of, but not knowledgeable about, conservation, environmental issues and climate change. While on vacation/trips, they now want to take excursions that provide an experience that increases this awareness and where they can participate.
We designed our Project with the above in mend. While dolphins are the major focus, the expeditions are well rounded bringing passengers on the Gulf and into remote, backwater protected areas of Southwest Florida. Based upon time of year, we see osprey, manatee, loggerhead turtles and bald eagles. Our Naturalists provide much information during such sightings.
Additionally, because of the range of the dolphin study, we range six or seven miles north or south from our departure point to barrier islands where passengers walk the beaches for 45 minutes, many of them shelling.
Describe your approach in detail. How is it innovative?
Launched February 1st, 2006, the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project is the only on-going study of wild dolphin in the area and, perhaps, the only daily year-round study of wild dolphins involving the paying general public as “citizen scientists” in the United States.
The Project is for five years, in three Phases and extends north from Latitude N26.18’0” to south to Latitude N25.45’0”, or roughly from Bonita Beach to Everglade City, a distance of 50 coastal miles. The Project includes near coastal, bay, river and estuary waters and focuses on Bottlenose dolphin abundance, distribution, movement, association patterns and behavior.
The approach is modeled after the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program and the Mid-Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Study, two highly acclaimed programs. Photo-identification techniques used and collateral data collected are consistent with these programs.
The Project utilizes a combination of its own resources with particular emphasis in using passengers for sightings, counting number of dolphins and in identifying who the dolphins are from our catalogs.
Our expeditions are three hours in length, twice daily, every day of the week except Sundays. Weather permitting, we operate all year round. Our trips normally have 15-20 passengers, so there is great personal interaction between crew and passengers.
What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?
We currently have working relationships with MOTE Marine Lab, NOAA and the University of Florida. We believe in continuing these relationships and expanding relationship with other dolphin research organizations around the world and attending meeting where there is an exchange of information and knowledge.
Enlarging the number of corporate and/or private sponsorships to the Project to provide the ability for analysis and compilation of the data basis as the Project expands into Phase 2 and 3 will be most helpful.
Partnering with volunteer organizations that can provide assistance in data collection, compilation and analysis.
Impact
In one sentence describe what kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.
To provide a substantial improvement in understanding of the needs, care and preservation of wild dolphin and their habitat.
Describe the degree of success of your approach to date. Clearly define how you measure quantitative and qualitative impact in terms of how your approach contributes to the sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How does your approach minimize negative impacts? 200 words or less
Substantial success has been accomplished over these first 27 months of the Project.
First, approximately 10,000 tourists and locals have taken our expeditions having participated in our work, learned about dolphins, their habitat and care.
Second, over 170 dolphins have be photo-identified named and cataloged.
Third, we have established good working relationships with MOTE Marine Labs, NOAA and the University of Florida in both sharing work and in specific worthy projects effecting marine life, locals and tourists.
Fourth, Angler’s Outreach is a program the Project is instrumental in bringing together on the area and works to minimize the negative effects of the human imprint in the area.
Additionally, we are developing relationships with the science departments of the Collier County School System. Twenty 7th Grade students recently joined one of our expeditions doing all the survey team work.
How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?
The expeditions are designed for passenger involvement. Passengers participate in dolphin sighting, “Dolphins at 3 o’clock!”; counting the number sighted ; and identifying dolphins from our photo catalogs. If a new dolphin is sighted, the passengers get to name it. Our dolphin identification catalogs are passed out at the beginning of the trip.
Additionally, families with children age 6 to 12 participate in The Dolphin Challenge, an on-board activity lead by our Naturalist through out the trip resulting in the children receiving our official Survey Team patch and becoming members of the Dolphin Explorer Club.
Describe how your innovation helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area’s cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues. How do you motivate them to act responsibly in their future travel decisions?
Throughout our expeditions, we constantly address the issues of conservation and preservation, the fragility of the area and explain how the marine life and backwaters all fit together. We make a five minute stop at the entrance to Rookery Bay where the Naturalist discusses how the marine life needs/uses the mangrove areas and how the health of the mangroves are essential to preserving the marine life.
We also place a sticker on the back of the complimentary photos passengers receive that lists NOAA’s tips for caring for wild life.
In what ways are local residents actively involved in your innovation, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?
Our participation in Angler’s Outreach is a model for bringing together government resources with local participation and input.
In January 2007, charter captains reported dolphins striping catch off lines. MOTE reported problem in Sarasota leading to dolphin mortalities.
Locally lead by the Project, Angler’s Outreach combines the resources of local charter captains, NOAA, University of Florida and MOTE Marine Labs in an education program targeted at recreational fishermen. The message is 1.) do not feed wild dolphins, 2.) do not release fish near dolphins, 3.) use different shaped hooks and 4.) use corrodible, not stainless steel hooks.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Sustainability
Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? What is the potential demand for your innovation?
Yes, it is sustainable at its present size. As the Project’s presence grows into Phases 2 and 3, it will require additional staffing both in crew and staff. We believe Phase 2 will enhance our continued sustainability. The demand by visits and locals is growing rapidly and we believe participation in our expeditions will double over the next three years.
How is your initiative currently financed? If available, provide information on your finances and organization that could help others. Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff.
The Project is privately underwritten by Sea Excursions Inc. for a five year period. Sea Excursions has been in business for over 20 years in SW Florida and is the leading provider of water activities to visitors, locals and hotels in the area.
Revenues generated by visitors and locals joining the Project’s expeditions provide the majority of funding required. We also have one corporate sponsor, Hilton Grand Vacations. The expeditions have become very appealing to corporations to have their employees participate in while attending corporate meetings at hotels in the area.
We carefully plan our prices and trip size to the demographics of our visitors. Against current pricing, our breakeven passenger/per trip are six passengers. Our average trips are 15 passengers, two trips a day, six days a week. We operate with a very small staff who have very high standards. Three full-time, one part-time and one volunteer.
What is your plan to expand your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.
The Project covers approximately 50 coastal miles in three Phases. We are currently in Phase 1 which covers approximately 17 coastal miles plus bays, rivers and estuaries.
We have secured dock space for the start of Phase 2. Phase 2 is approximately 18 miles from Bonita Beach south to Marker 44 on Keewaydin Island. The Dolphin Explorer will be used two days a week until the demand for the innovation requires a second vessel. We will then fill that demand initially with a small six passenger vessel until the demand for a larger vessel is required.
What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?
We have set very high standards for the Project. All our Naturalists are college educated, accredited in the University of Florida’s Naturalist Program, trained in dolphin survey work, have very high social skills and years of outdoor experience with the wildlife in SW Florida. Finding crew staff who have the required levels of excellence in experience, knowledge and social skills is our biggest issue.
Using volunteer staff has been difficult. The nature of the Project requires a day-to-day intimate knowledge and interpretation of sightings, location , photos and data.
The second had been getting the word out to visitors about taking our trips. That appears to be resolved. Return customers, word of mouth, referrals, brochures, limited advertising and the internet are beginning to build.
The Story
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.
Chris Desmond is Founder and Director of the 10,000 Islands Project. A USCG Master Captain, he has spent the past 10 years on the waters of Southwest Florida.
Rocky Beaudry is owner/operator of Sea Excursions, Inc. and has unwritten the Project.
Kent Morse is Naturalist, Outdoor Photographer and manages all photo identification for the Project. Kent is vital to the Project.
Cindy Hackney is a Naturalist and serves as Survey Team Leader on our expeditions.
Both Kent and Cindy are college graduates and are Certified Interpretive Guides through University of Florida’s Master Naturalist Program.
What is the origin of your innovation? Tell your story.
The origin for the Project began in early 2005. Mr. Desmond has had a great admiration and love for the dolphin his entire life, particularly since his water work in SW Florida. His experience with both tourists and locals confirmed that they shared this view, but knew little about them. He also determine that no research was being done on dolphins in SW Florida to determine the health of stock in light of the effects of the rapid growth of people in the area.
Over the next 12 months, he made contact with a number of dolphin research organizations determining 1.) survey work is/can be accomplished using “citizen scientists” and 2.) it best to secure private underwritings for the Project that would be supported by tourists paying for the experience.
Designing the Project around the approach developed by MOTE’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program to ensure high standards would be in place, he then approached Rocky Beaudy, owner/operator of Sea Excursions Inc. to underwrite the Project for five years. These conversations concluded with Mr. Rocky Beaudry enhancing the Expeditions by including other elements to the trips which he knew tourists would also be interested in, i.e. a Naturalist, shelling and observing/explaining the area we travel in.
We then determine to use digital photography from the start and have digital printers on the boat so that dolphins could be immediately identified from our catalogs. This was a major advancement over other dolphin research projects. The use of digital photography also allowed for easy input into our master computer photo catalog.
Sea Excursions owes a 33’ powered catamaran that had been used for more generic tours. It was renamed the Dolphin Explorer and now serves as the platform for our survey work. It has proven to be an excellent vessel for the work and acts as the “beta” vessel in testing approach and equipment.
We then spent four months, October 2005 through January 2006, perfecting our photographic techniques, data recording and photo analysis and refined the process to accommodate passengers.
The Project was launched on February 1, 2006.
Please write an overview of your project. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the Google map located on the competition homepage.
The 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project brings tourists and locals together in both ‘hands-on” study of local coastal bottlenose dolphins while learning how to care, preserve and protect these magnificent mammals. The Project is the only on-going study of wild dolphins in the area and, perhaps, the only daily year-round study of wild dolphins involving the paying general public as “citizen scientists” in the United States. Tourist /local participation in our work results in valuable research data that is provided to resource managers, universities and other dolphin research organizations.
While searching for bottlenose dolphins, our three hour expeditions brings us into backwater estuaries, river and bays providing a broad array of other marine life and habitat. Sightings of manatee, sea turtles, bald eagles, osprey and many different kinds of wading birds are not uncommon. How all this fits together with the habitat is explained
by our Naturalists
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Comments
The 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project excursion is a not-to-be missed trip for families in SW Florida. We have been on the trip many times in the last few years and it is one of the main reasons we return to the area each year. The waters in the region are teeming with dolphin, manatee, sea turtles and other amazing sea life. Based on the accomplishments of the Project, we see many of the same dolphin each year and have seen babies grow to adults as our children get older too. The Project has initiated in my children a love for and respect of dolphin that I know they will have forever.
The 10,000 islands area is undisturbed by development. It is comforting to feel alone when walking these sands in search of precious shells, seeing beautiful birds and swimming in the pristine aquamarine waters. It is nature at its best. This trip provides an accessible introduction
to not only dolphin, but the larger effect that their preservation has on our planet.
A few months ago, I was fortunate to experience the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project. Since I've always been fascinated with dolphins, this tour really piqued my interest. It promised enjoyment as well as education. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. During the tour, we saw a multitude of birds, dolphins, and even manatee in their natural habitats. The naturalist on board was very knowledgeable & we learned so much about the environment and the importance of it's preservation. The children on board were invited to take "The Dolphin Challenge", a short booklet of questions which TESTED their knowledge of dolphins, and INCREASED their knowledge of dolphins. They were also encouraged to name the new dolphins we saw. It was amazing to see how involved they were in this task. We enjoyed a 40 minute walk on a beautiful island beach, learning about the different vegetation and various shells.....and then, of course, we experienced the amazing dolphins. We learned about how to identify them, their interactions,feeding habits,offspring,mating.....things I had never known about these magnificent mammals. This tour was an awakening to many of us....in making us aware of how precious our natural resources are and how we need to protect them for future generations.
A few months ago, I was fortunate to experience the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project. Since I've always been fascinated with dolphins, this tour really piqued my interest. It promised enjoyment as well as education. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. During the tour, we saw a multitude of birds, dolphins, and even manatee in their natural habitats. The naturalist on board was very knowledgeable & we learned so much about the environment and the importance of it's preservation. The children on board were invited to take "The Dolphin Challenge", a short booklet of questions which TESTED their knowledge of dolphins, and INCREASED their knowledge of dolphins. They were also encouraged to name the new dolphins we saw. It was amazing to see how involved they were in this task. We enjoyed a 40 minute walk on a beautiful island beach, learning about the different vegetation and various shells.....and then, of course, we experienced the amazing dolphins. We learned about how to identify them, their interactions,feeding habits,offspring,mating.....things I had never known about these magnificent mammals. This tour was an awakening to many of us....in making us aware of how precious our natural resources are and how we need to protect them for future generations.
I work for the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau and I can attest that the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project is a true ecotourism star in our destination. Master Naturalist Kent Morse was awarded our annual Tourism Star Award for front of the house guest service last year. He and Capt. Chris Desmond and the other members of the team provide a genuinely educational experience, while also ensuring that passengers have a memorable and very enjoyable experience onboard the Dolphin Explorer. I am getting an increasing amount of media interest in the Dolphin Explorer experience, since it is such a unique "citizen scientist" participatory activity. By being actively engaged the passengers retain a great deal of knowledge and appreciation for our resident dolphin population and their habitat. It is an honor to help spread the word about the project, since they provide such a high quality experience for our visitors.
The Dophin project gave my family and I a close-up look at these beautiful mammals in their natural environment. We have seen dolphins with altered behaviors in shows at commercial tourist destinations, but we had never encountered and observed dolphins' natural behavior in their own world. This opportunity was provided by Chris Desmond and the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project.
We observed a dolphin hunting for food in an area off of Marco Island. He moved back and forth near a sea wall. We also observed a mother and her calf. We were surprised at how much Chris and his naturalist knew about each dolphin in the area. Each dolphin even has a name; some of them supplied by tourists like us.
The Dolphin Project gave me, my wife, and my boys a better understanding and awareness of the fragile natural world that exists alongside humans and our encroaching developments. This increased awareness and the observations of these beautiful mammals in the wild will hopefully instill a deeper respect for the natural world that is right next to us here in south Florida.
This is such a worthwhile excursion! Chris and Kent have amazing depth of knowledge and a wonderful ability to teach all ages.
Upon boarding, each of my girls (aged 11, 8 and 6) received an age-appropriate activity booklet that was engaging, interesting, fun and we all actually learned a lot!
Fantastic identification book on board -- has photos of dolphin fins/names -- my girls could easily see the distinctions between individual dolphins. Some folks on board could even identify a few of the dolphins we saw in the water because of the photo book.
Loved learning other unique aspects about the southwest FL habitat where these dolphins live and some of the other inhabitants they share these waters with.
While exciting to see bottle-nose dolphins up close in their natural habitat, it was even better to learn what we can do to help protect them.
Way cool at the end of the excursion to receive a few photos Kent took of our family, dolphins and other wildlife we saw on the trip.
Highlights for the girls: seeing dolphins up close (even babies!), shelling, seeing all the other wildlife and getting badges for completing the booklet activities.
Over all -- you guys have done a great job keeping the "fun" in learning, teaching valuable information and allowing us the privilege to get close to a much loved mammal that we would otherwise not have had.
Thanks for your excellent work!
Chris Desmond, Kent Morse and the other naturalists who conduct the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project are so knowledgable and passionate about what they are accomplishing that it is hard to find another tour that I would compare to theirs. I have had the opportunity to be on board their vessel for 3 trips and each time is just as exciting, informative and innovative as the first. Chris and his team of naturalists are true innovators in geotourism and enhance the experience of our visitors and locals alike. The 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project has created a study that not only enhances the geographical character of the waters surrounding the 10,000 Islands, it creates a moment in time no participant will ever forget.
I work the the Naples, Marco Island Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau and have had multiple opportunities to bring visitors on familairization tours of the area to experience the Dolphin explorer. I have brought visitors from foreign countries and Meeting planners from around the US. They all have had a wonderful and educational experience and have recommended this tour to groups and clients. On one such occassion with this same captain on another boat we actually witnessed the birth of a dolphin watching it take its first breath right at the pass of Naples Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.A once in a lifetime experience for me and my guests. This tour on the Dolphin Explorer offers visitors to experience something they may never in their lives have the opportunity to do. It is priceless.
My husband and I had the opportunity to experience being part of the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project during our last two trips to Marco Island. Chris Desmond and his crew made the day enjoyable and educational. Chris shared his knowledge of each dolphin as we approached them and gave us a better understanding of the importance of the preservation of Dolphins as well as other wild life.
These beautiful mammals are part of the beauty of S.W. Florida and the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project will help us maintain that beauty for years to come.
I have been involved in the 10,000 Island Dolphin Project since its inception and feel lucky to have been able to share in the frustrations and challenges involved in creating a new model for eco-tourism that involves the public in scientific research. There is the benefit of a commercial eco-tour funding a valid study; data is collected without competing for limited research dollars. This information about the local population of bottlenose dolphins can then be available to local resource managers.Beyond this, however, the exciting element for me is to help bridge a gulf that has grown too wide between scientists and the general public. Now that we have been at this for a few years, passengers on the Dolphin Explorer can have the experience of helping to collect data about bottlenose dolphins and, through our narration, learn of the insights we have gained from analysis of data collected on previous trips. This is the sort of instant gratification that no scientist doing field work has ever experienced of course, but the point is for our clients to experience the full cycle in a three hour tour, thereby demystifying the scientific process: this is the technique we use to collect the data; this is how we work with this information; these are the insights about dolphins we are able to glean from this sometimes tedious effort. I think there is value in tours such as traditional whale watching that give people an opportunity to see magnificent creatures and learn something about their natural history. The change I want to affect, by involving our clients as 'citizen scientists', is to demonstrate that the fascination and natural curiousity they feel is the heart of the scientific enterprise. Dealing with the challenges facing America and the world necessarily requires a conversation amongst scientists, citizens and policy makers: any contribution we can make towards breaking down barriers between scientists and the greater public is worthwhile. As a naturalist it is also very satisfying to be able to go beyond sharing general information about dolphins culled from books and, instead, speak knowledgeably about the population and individuals we encounter as part of our ongoing study. We have a long way to go toward perfecting this new model of geo-tourism that marries scientific research with the traditional commercial eco-tour but I feel lucky to have the opportunity to participate in