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Issue 4 - Volume 2, August 2004 . |
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Reef Check Teams in Action
Site Spotlight - Caribbean Crossing Methods Check - What should I count as Nutrient Indicator Algae? Reef Check News | ||||||||||
| Reef Check Teams in Action | ||||||||||
As a “kick-off” event of the two-month long Durham University (U.K.) Coral Awareness and Research Expedition (DU-CARE), a two-day reef assessment training course focusing on Reef Check and SocMon was held July 9 – 10, 2004 on Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines.
In addition to CDF, key speakers and staff included representatives from the City of Lapu Lapu, the Cebu Jaycees, the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Geoplan Foundation of the Philippine’s Department of Science and Technology. Special thanks is extended to Tropical Island Adventures and Scotty’s Dive Center for their full support. Following their training, the DU-CARE expedition led by CDF scientists and staff, headed offshore to complete the first Reef Check and SocMon surveys of the remote Caubian Islands and adjacent areas of the unique Danajon Double Barrier Reef. Learn more about these on-going activities at www.cebudive.com or contact Mike Ross.
TURKS AND CAICOS:
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| Site Spotlight- Caribbean Crossing | ||||||||||
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Back to my roots: the
Crossing goes Reef Checking through the Caribbean When Gregor Hodgson came to Hawaii last winter to talk about Reef Check activities in the islands, we talked about continuing the growth of Reef Check Hawaii, but I also asked him repeatedly how to get on the Quiksilver Crossing. Every 10 minutes or so I would find a way to reiterate: “Did I mention that I want to get on that boat?” Like many marine scientists in Hawaii, I appreciate living here not only for the opportunity to study coral reefs but also because of a passion for surfing some of the world’s best waves. Just as my career in studying fisheries and coral reefs is intertwined with a love for diving and surfing, so is a life on the Crossing that serves the dual purpose of monitoring the reefs and surfing the waves that break over them.
At any given time, there are approximately 30 qualified applicants willing to volunteer to be marine biologists on board the Crossing. So I was pleasantly surprised with the response from Reef Check headquarters to my email inquiry a few months later. Amazingly enough, the response was: “How soon can you go, and for how long?” Having completed an M.S. degree studying coral reefs in the Caribbean, I found a way to clear my schedule and return to my roots. Joining the Crossing as a Reef Check marine biologist was a dream come true. Imagine waking up on a boat every day and realizing that your toughest decision is whether to go diving or surfing. Because the mission of the boat is one of exploration, you and your boat mates are very likely to be the only ones present on the reef that day, and in some cases you may be the first ones ever to surf or dive on that reef.
Even in an area that has
been fairly thoroughly explored such as the Caribbean, during my 5 weeks on
board the M/V Indies Trader, we stayed in areas that see very few visitors.
Highlights of my trip include hearing humpback whales exhaling as we anchored near a remote reef on a moonless night;
diving in areas where Nassau, tiger, and other groupers still occupy many of
the large coral heads; hearing that a local fisherman has seen those same
grouper aggregating to spawn in the winter months, and seeing ostentatiously
“camouflaged” reef fish such as peacock flounders, spotted eagle rays and
flying gurnards. Meanwhile, the M/V Indies Trader makes her way around the world, eventually heading back to the wave-rich and species-rich areas of the South Pacific. I am already preparing my inquiry: “So did I mention that I want to get on that boat? THE BEST DAY: The
Crossing In Summary
We
dropped anchor for the morning after crossing
overnight to a turquoise shoal in the
midst of a deep blue sea, the horizon
flat and smooth and unperturbed for nearly all of its 360 degree
circumference. The only blemish was a distant uninhabited cay, low on the
horizon, quite unobtrusive. Grabbing my mask, fins, transect tape and dive
slate, I jumped over the low rail of the Indies Trader and swam for
shallower reefs, eyeing the solitary great barracuda which had risen out of
the depths to follow me and mark my progress towards the reef. Eerie.
Kicking lazily about, I finally settled on a healthy stretch of reef in 3m
of water, ran out my tape, and started my survey.
Returning my attention to the reef below, I continued my survey, constantly
appreciative of the wonderful logic employed by nature to make such a
complicated ecosystem function so smoothly. Healthy coral heads provided
the habitat for numerous invertebrates–sponges, gorgonians, and worms–which
filtered the water clear, allowing the sunlight to reach down to the coral.
Fish, madly colored fish, swarmed the surface of the living reef, taking
advantage of its contours and ins and outs, feeding, sleeping and breeding
in its nooks and crannies. And floating above it all, is a skinny,
positively buoyant human being tallying everything. The utter isolation of this reef highlighted for me the importance of reef conservation and management: an entire ecosystem’s existence depending on the health of the coral, far beyond the obvious reach of human contact. Yet not completely cut off. I still found a small amount of rubbish on the bottom: algae covered bottles, and a knotted mess of rope- reminders that if we are not careful to respect this planet and its coral reefs, they will disappear for good, taking with them the algae, the fish, and the perfect, hollow right that we surfed there, with only each other as witnesses, in the middle of the Caribbean. For more information on The Quiksilver Crossing, or to read the daily log from their current PR leg, click here. | ||||||||||
| Mark Your Calendars | ||||||||||
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REEF RESCUE 2004
On Thursday, September 30, 2004, Reef Check is holding its 2nd Annual “Reef Rescue” Dinner and Auction at The Victorian on Main Street in Santa Monica. We expect 400 friends from the entertainment, business and environmental communities to attend. In addition to a fabulous seafood dinner and celebrity guests, the evening features host Sharon Lawrence, a VIP reception, live musical performances, and silent and live auctions with celebrity auctioneer John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings, Princess Diaries 2).
Kelly Hu will be presented with the Guardian of the Reef
award in recognition of her outstanding leadership and creativity to raise
public awareness, promote coral reef education, and foster community
participation in the protection of coral reef ecosystems. Nick
Lachey will receive the prestigious Triton Award to recognize
his environmental consciousness and commitment to keeping our reefs healthy for people and marine life. ST LUCIA EXPEDITION RC HEADQUARTERS IS MOVING!
Coral Reefs still need your help Down under | ||||||||||
| Reef Check Champion | ||||||||||
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If you know a Reef Check Champion you feel should be highlighted, please email a brief description of his/her contribution as well as a photo to RC Headquarters. | ||||||||||
| Methods Check | ||||||||||
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What Should I Count As Nutrient Indicator Algae? Since 1997, Reef Check has used algae as a proxy indicator for nutrient pollution. We have specifically excluded some species such as Sargassum spp. because these are considered a natural part of the ecosystem. In 2003, the proxy name was changed from Fleshy Algae (FS) to Nutrient Indicator Algae (NIA) – to better clarify the target. After extensive consultations with Reef Check scientists, starting in 2005, we will adjust the definition of NIA to include algae such as Sargassum spp. and all other algae except turfs (less than 5 cm height), calcareous and coralline algae. While all algae are stimulated by addition of nutrients, this adjustment allows Reef Check teams to track situations where Sargassum or other naturally occurring algae are taking over. | ||||||||||
| Reef Check News | ||||||||||
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REEF CHECK JOINS BODY
GLOVE AT THE KONA CLASSIC
Over 50 photographers, including photo pros Marty Snyderman, David
Fleetham, Eric Hanauer, and Bonnie Pelnar, went through a Reef Check
introduction and basic training led by Executive Director Gregor Hodgson
and Hawaii Coordinator Dave Raney. Fifteen contestants even took time out from
the contest to participate in a Reef Check snorkel survey at Shark
Beach outside of Kona Harbor. Reef Check staff members were on hand every
step of the way to answer questions about the ecosystem that the
participants were photographing. International surf sensation Kelly Slater invited Reef Check to the islands of Fiji for an event like no other. The Kelly Slater Invitational was held May 20-22 on the islands of Tavarua and Namotu and the beneficiary of this celebrity surfing event was Reef Check.
The
brainchild of six-time world champion Kelly Slater, the event brought
together the greats of professional surfing, along with invited friends
and celebrities. A range of competition formats were used, documented and
critiqued by Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) management and the
surfers themselves In collaboration with the Japan Coral Network, Reef Check once again set an outstanding example for cooperation during the 10th International Coral Reef Symposium held in Okinawa, Japan. The Symposium proper was 28 June to 2 July 2004, followed by a joint Reef Check-SocMon workshop 3-6 July. During the Symposium, several presentations highlighted studies using Reef Check monitoring and results. In addition, Marco Noordeloos of Reef Base presented the new Web Reef Analysis System (WRAS) he is developing for online presentation and analysis of the global Reef Check database. The presentation showed how WRAS will be a valuable new tool for applying Reef Check data to science and management.
On Wednesday evening during the Symposium, Reef Check and the Japan Coral Network sponsored a lively Japanese Barbeque on the beach adjacent to the conference center. This brought over 100 Reef Check family and friends together to share experiences and build new collaborations. Thirty-six participants, trainers and volunteers from 14 countries took part in the post-symposium workshop with the support of The Japan Fund for Global Environment, Hasu Club, Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd. and NOAA. While Bill Kiene led the group of new Reef Check trainees, Gregor Hodgson led the experienced participants and Reef Check coordinators in a discussion to improve Reef Check’s methods and programs. In addition, Leah Bunce (US-NOAA) and Joshua Cinner (Australia-JCU) led the workshop on socio-economic monitoring procedures. This also included a valuable discussion to refine the Soc-Mon methods into a set of procedures that will be incorporated into future Reef Check surveys. In spite of a typhoon that limited in-water activities, Bill was able to lead his trainees on a snorkeling practice of Reef Check methods. Then the entire group had a day of wonderful diving and Reef Check practice on SCUBA at the beautiful reefs of the Kerama Islands. Much credit goes to Yasuaki Miyamoto and his Japan Coral Network colleagues who volunteered their time and worked extremely hard to make the workshop a great success and a wonderful experience for everyone. Photos of the workshop, above and below water, by Georg Heiss can be seen at http://www.reefcheck.de/Okinawa-RC.html and by the Coral Network at http://jp.y42.photos.yahoo.co.jp/c7oops RC FIELD GUIDES AVAILABLE
Available individually or in bundles of five and ten, these guides are ready to ship today. Order yours now for the Atlantic or Indo-Pacific. One guide
$15.00*
GET YOUR DATA IN! SEND US YOUR UPDATES | ||||||||||
| Coral Reefs in the News | ||||||||||
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THE AMADIS PROJECT:
A Voyage of Coral Reef Conservation and Education
The Amadis Project is based on the yacht Amadis, a 12 m wooden sailing boat which will form a roving research and education platform. The project will run throughout 2005 as they sail through the Caribbean and South Pacific. They shall be conducting Reef Check surveys throughout to measure coral reef health and hope to survey new areas. For more details about this project including the route please visit our website: www.theamadisproject.co.uk.
"The destruction of coral reefs is threatening the health and stability of the entire ocean ecosystem," says Lawrence, who volunteers as a spokeswoman for Reef Check, an international program that scientifically monitors, restores and maintains global coral reef health. "We're raping and pillaging the reef for an element – calcium — that we can get in other sources more efficiently and more economically." To read the full article, click here.
In Hawaii, Alien Underwater
Invasion "Like a deceptively dreamy blanket of snow, a voracious invader is spreading through Hawaii's deep reefs. The snowflake coral grows so explosively that its white, gelatinous polyps are forming billowy underwater prairies, crowding out native sea life. Formally known as Carijoariisei, the alien species has stirred alarm among scientists. Most threatened is Hawaii's state gemstone, the rare and precious black coral that accounts for an estimated $25 million worth of jewelry sales from the islands each year. The full extent of carijoa's reach is not yet known, but researchers say it is choking out black coral colonies at an astonishing rate in depths below 245 feet, leaving only dead brittle skeletons." To read the full article, click here. | ||||||||||
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The global coral reef
education, monitoring and management program. | ||||||||||
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The
Reef Check Foundation |
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Click here to read past newsletters Click here to download printable PDF of this newsletter |
Six-time world surfing
champion, Kelly Slater has shown his support for Reef Check in many
different ways this summer. At the first annual Kelly Slater Invitational
in Tavarua, Fiji, Kelly invited Reef Check to be the beneficiary of the
event. This allowed Reef Check to get its message out to a large and elite
group of guests including professional surfers, film and music stars, and
other celebrity figures. Outdoor Life Network featured a
Brand
new Reef Check Field Guides are in and ready to hit the water. 
Mission: To carry out surveys of coral reef health in remote areas of the
Caribbean and South Pacific and