Educational Marine Biological Adventures with Reef Check – EMBARC – is our interactive marine education program that gives underserved middle and high school students a chance to become marine biologists for the day and experience the ocean environment first hand. During a 3-hour boat expedition, students gain awareness about the value of ocean resources, the threats to these resources, and the solutions they can be a part of. The curriculum for the EMBARC program was designed and developed using Next Generation Science Standards for middle and high school students.

Through this program, we hope to open the students’ eyes to the wonders of the ocean world, and our ultimate goal is to create a new generation of young ocean ambassadors, who will start making environmentally conscious changes in their own lives and inspire others in their schools and families to do the same. Presenting these students with ways in which they can reduce their carbon footprint, can help them to make a personal connection with the ocean and give them a greater desire to protect our marine environment and species for future generations to come.

Reef Check EMBARC Program

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Anemones(Order Actinaria)

Species Data

Anemones are related to jellyfish, corals, and hydroids.
In California, Reef Check volunteers count all anemones larger than 10 cm wide and/or 10 cm tall.
Want to learn more? Visit the Global Reef Tracker

California Sheephead(Semicossyphus pulcher)

Species Data

The females that do turn into males usually change when they are about eight years old.
California Sheephead are typically found in Southern California and down to Baja California.
Want to learn more? Visit the Global Reef Tracker

California Sea Cucumber

Species Data

They are extremely important to the environment because they are detritivores which are animals that break down organic matter.
The California Sea Cucumber are typically seen from Central California to Alaska.
Want to learn more? Visit the Global Reef Tracker

Horn Shark(Heterodontus francisci)

Species Data

They are nocturnal and are usually found by Reef Check divers, hiding in holes and deep caves within the rocky reef.
They can reach up to three feet in length, but no one knows how old they live to be.
Want to learn more? Visit the Global Reef Tracker

Cabezon(Scorpaenichthys marmoratus)

Species Data

Cabezon are typically seen and counted on Central and Northern California surveys but can sometimes be found in Southern California as well.
Cabezon are a popular fish for recreational fishermen and the live fish fishery.
Want to learn more? Visit the Global Reef Tracker

Long-spined Black Sea Urchin(Echinothrix diadema)

Species Data

In the Caribbean, absence or low numbers may indicate urchin disease; high numbers are an indicator of overfishing of urchin predators
In the Indo-Pacific, high numbers are an indicator of overfishing of urchin predators
Want to learn more? Visit the Global Reef Tracker

Banded Coral Shrimp(Stenopus hispidus)

Species Data

These shrimp are among the cleaner shrimps that feed on parasites that live upon other reef organisms
They are fairly hard to see because they live under rocks and in crevices, but have very obvious red and white stripes and long, white antennae
Want to learn more? Visit the Global Reef Tracker

Grouper

Species Data

For Reef Check, only grouper greater than 30cm in length are counted since large numbers of small species can obscure overfishing of species that grow to larger sizes
Is a global tropical indicator organism of overfishing and the live fish trade
Want to learn more? Visit the Global Reef Tracker

Moray Eel

Species Data

Is a global tropical indicator organism of overfishing
Eels tend to hide in holes on the reef – you’ll rarely see them swimming around
Want to learn more? Visit the Global Reef Tracker

Parrotfish

Species Data

For Reef Check, only parrotfish greater than 20cm in length are counted since large numbers of small species can obscure overfishing of species that grow to larger sizes
All species in the Scaridae family are counted
Want to learn more? Visit the Global Reef Tracker

Are you interested in a field trip?

Learn more about Reef Check’s EMBARC program and join us on an expedition.