Press Release: First Statewide Underwater Survey of California Reefs by Citizen Scientists 

Post date : 2008-07-31 

Los Angeles - A network of over 200 volunteer divers from the Reef Check Foundation has completed a statewide scientific survey of California's rocky reef ecosystems. Results of the first two years of the survey have been released in a 135-page report, "Reef Check California 2006-2007: Citizen Monitoring to Improve Marine Conservation." Initial results show differences in fish and invertebrate populations in various parts of the state. For example, divers found that abalone were still quite rare at the Southern California survey sites whereas, in northern California, noticeably smaller red abalone were found in shallow waters accessible to recreational fishing than found in deep waters. The report will provide baseline data for future comparisons on changing marine ecosystems. An executive summary, photos, and the full report can be accessed at www.reefcheck.org/rcca/2yr.php.

The Reef Check Foundation trains and certifies recreational scuba divers in scientific methods so they can carry out ecological monitoring. Working in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), Reef Check's California program (RCCA) formed teams of dedicated volunteers and surveyed 73 "indicator species," such as spiny lobster and California sheephead fish, on 48 reefs located from Mendocino to San Diego. So far, these citizen scientists have counted over 80,000 organisms.

 http://ned.reefcheck.org/map.php

Using the "Map Viewer" function, you can view data summaries, including newly added 2008 surveys.