The Transect Line - July/August 2022

Restoration of Northern California Bull Kelp Forests Report

Over the last two years, Reef Check Foundation has been working in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Ocean Protection Council, The Nature Conservancy, Noyo Center for Marine Science, and commercial fishermen in a collaborative, community-based approach to restoring the bull kelp forest ecosystems in Mendocino County. Restoration occurred in two sites, Noyo Bay, beginning in August 2020, and Albion Cove in July 2021. Results from 15 months of restoration efforts at Noyo Bay and four months at Albion Cove are now available in our Restoration of Northern California Bull Kelp Forest Report!

Reef Check’s Tropical Program Reaches Milestone

Reef Check has reached a significant milestone! Thanks to 25 years of hard work from our volunteer EcoDivers we now have more than 15,000 coral reef surveys in our global database! The data are analyzed and used locally by marine park managers, nationally by fisheries and environment managers, and internationally by organizations, including United Nations agencies, to help better track and care for coral reefs.

Bid for the Oceans Online Auction Coming This November

This year’s “Bid for the Oceans” online auction fundraiser will run November 2-11, 2022. Get ready to bid with purpose! Proceeds will fund Reef Check’s conservation and monitoring programs of tropical coral reefs and temperate kelp forests, as well as critical restoration efforts across California. If you would like to donate an item to the auction, please fill out our donation form.

Reef Check Malaysia Celebrates 15 Years

August 3rd marked the 15th anniversary of Reef Check Malaysia! Who would have thought that an organization that started off with one full time staff and just 16 survey sites would grow into one with national programs, over 200 survey sites countrywide and field staff in four locations (and counting!). General Manager Julian Hyde reflects on the evolution of Reef Check Malaysia.

Video Spotlight: Restoration of Northern California Bull Kelp Forests

Reef Check’s Kelp Restoration Coordinator, Morgan Murphy-Cannella, shares the results of our two-year long restoration project in Northern California, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the state, community members, commercial fishing industry and NGOs to bring bull kelp back to this region.