Reef Check California April 2012 Update

By Reef Check California Director Dr. Jan Freiwald

It is time to get recertified for another Reef Check season! This month we are having our first recertification classes in Los Angeles, Monterey and Fort Bragg. So if you are a Reef Checker and can’t wait to get in the water again, please come to one of our recertifications to get ready for the survey season. I would also like to welcome the new Reef Checkers from the University of California Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay State University and West Valley College who have finished their training and are ready to survey this year. Over the past few months we have been busy working on last year’s data and getting ready for another year of data collection. The annual recertifications are always an important part of Reef Check’s data quality control. By practicing and being evaluated by a Reef Check instructor every year, volunteers get a chance to re-familiarize themselves with the survey techniques and organisms so that we can insure consistency in data collection. Please check the online training schedule and forum for upcoming recertifications, trainings and surveys.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone out on the water again after this long dry season!