About Your Application

Organization(s) name(s):

Los Angeles Underwater Explorers; Ghost Fishing

Organization(s) website(s):

www.ghostfishing.org

Organization(s) twitter handle(s):

www.twitter.com/ghostfishing

Organization(s) facebook handle(s):

www.facebook.com/ghostfishing

Describe Your Organization(s)

Non-profit organization

For-profit organization

Government

Other (please specify below):

In one sentence, please describe what your organization does.

:

We are a group of specially trained volunteer scuba divers that are ridding our world's oceans of abandoned commercial fishing gear, AKA "ghost nets" (I am the coordinator for the United States, based out of Los Angeles).

In one to three sentences, please describe your proposal.

:

At least once a month, we go to various shipwrecks and reefs that are covered in ghost nets, which will wreak havoc on fragile marine ecosystems for decades or even centuries if they are not removed. Los Angeles is FULL of people who scuba dive, surf, swim, snorkel, kayak, windsurf, etc.- we live near the ocean because we LOVE her! We also do a lot of outreach for adults and kids of all ages: lectures, presentations, tabling events to let everyone know what is happening in the ocean.

Where will you be working? Please be specific (e.g. Third Street Middle School; Boyle Heights; LA County).

Central LA

East LA

San Gabriel Valley

San Fernando Valley

South LA

Westside

South Bay

Antelope Valley

County of Los Angeles (countywide)

City of Los Angeles (citywide)

LAUSD

Other (please specify below):

(e.g. Third Street Middle School; Boyle Heights; LA County):

ANY school that will let us do a presentation, we will attend. For ocean cleanups: we are working mostly in the San Pedro Bay and off of Catalina.

How do you plan to use these resources to make change? (check all that apply)

Conduct research

Engage residents and stakeholders

Implement a pilot or new project

Expand a pilot or program

Mobilize for systems change

Advocate with policymakers and leaders

Implement and track policy

Other (please specify below):

:

We have already been in contact with lawmakers re: early reporting of lost nets. Legislation was introduced several years ago but was vetoed. We will try again, with a new Governor.

How will your proposal improve the following “Play” metrics? (check all that apply)

Access to open space and park facilities

Number of children enrolled in afterschool programs

Per capita crime rates

Percentage of residents that feel safe in their neighborhoods

Attendance at major league sporting events

Residents within 1⁄4 mile of a park (Dream Metric)

Number of residents with easy access to a “vibrant” park (Dream Metric)

Number of parks with intergenerational play opportunities (Dream Metric)

Number (and quality) of informal spaces for play (Dream Metric)

Describe in greater detail how you will make LA the best place to play.

:

This is a project that is already underway, but we need funding in order to sustain it. People move to California to be near the ocean, this is a precious resource that affects many lives. Abandoned commercial fishing nets pose multiple threats- not only to the underwater world, but for the people enjoying the ocean. Abandoned nets create navigational hazards to boaters, they damage fish stocks, they cause death and destruction which directly impacts the enjoyment of scuba divers and other people who come to the ocean to play.

Please explain how you will evaluate your work.

:

We have been keeping track of every single cleanup and every single outreach event, to approximate our impact on the community and of course on the ocean. I have an ongoing spread sheet on my computer that I keep "public," it is available to anyone who wishes to see it. Regarding the ocean, it is fascinating to see the transformation of a killing field to a healthy, vibrant reef once the ghost nets are removed. Documenting every single cleanup dive with video and/or still photography is another way that we keep track of our progress and evaluate our impact.

How can the LA2050 community and other stakeholders help your proposal succeed? (check all that apply)

Money (financial capital)

Volunteers/staff (human capital)

Publicity/awareness (social capital)

Infrastructure (building/space/vehicles, etc.)

Education/training

Technical infrastructure (computers, etc.)

Community outreach

Network/relationship support

Quality improvement research

Other (please specify below):

Discussion

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