Reef Check 2004 Teaching Presentation: Introduction Reef Check-UCLA 1362 Hershey Hall Box 95-1496 UCLA Los Angeles, CA 90095-1496 (310) 794- 4985 www.reefcheck.org
Jan 03, 2016
Reef Check 2004
Teaching Presentation:
Introduction
Reef Check-UCLA 1362 Hershey Hall Box 95-1496 UCLA Los Angeles, CA 90095-1496 (310) 794-4985
www.reefcheck.org
History• In 1993 at a Symposium in Miami a
question was asked: What is the health of the world’s coral reefs?
• Science “as usual” failed to give answers because:• Too few scientists, too little time on reefs• Too few study sites • Few long-term studies• Emphasis on basic researchDifferent questions and methods
Why do we care?• Home to ¼ of all marine fish• Support tourist economies• a new frontier for medical research• A food source for 100s of millions of
people• Coastal protection from wave erosion• 20 million scuba divers• Great beauty and spiritual value
Threats to Coral Reefs
Cyanide Fishing
Blast Fishing
Reef gleaning
Overfishing
Muro-ami
What is the health of coral reefs
globally?
Before Reef Check scientists had not answered this question because:
Too few scientists, too little time on reefsToo few study sites Few long-term studiesEmphasis on basic researchDifferent questions and methods
1997 –Reef Check beginsReef Check designed global survey method
for Int’l Year of the ReefSimple, Rapid, All volunteerCombined manpower of local communities
with scientific experts‘Eco-holistic’ -- not just fish or coralProvides basic data on coral reef healthApplicable anywhere in the world
Target Reef Check “communities” include:
Villagers/fisherfolkTourist diversLocal dive clubsGovernment agenciesLocal/regional NGO’s,
conservation groupsOther stakeholders
RC global-scale goals: Science
a synoptic assessment of human impacts on coral reefs based on long-term monitoring of selected sites
Conservation and Management raise public awareness about value of coral
reefs, threats to their health and solutions build a network of monitoring and
management teams Provide local resource managers with the
tools necessary to manage their reefs
Community involvementInvolving the community in monitoring
is the only answer
Most cost-effective
Builds stewardship
Builds support for government management efforts
Reef Check MonitoringEach country has a coordinator
Provide seed funding to new teams
Monitoring is simple
and fun so will be
repeated
What do we monitor?High value fish typically targeted by
aquarium collectors, spear fishermen and
others.Count at family level, with specific
exceptionsInvertebrate species typically targeted as
food species or collected for curio trade.Substrate categories chosen to detect
large scale changes.
Success!1997: 750 divers, >100 marine scientists,
31 countries, 350 reefs surveyed1998: >1000 divers, >150 scientists,
40 countries, 250 reefs1999: >1500 divers, >160 scientists
50 countries, 250 reefs2000: Expansion within each country:
50+ sites in Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia
2001: Expanded to 8 new countries and territories2002: Continue to expand….
1400 Reefs, 62 Countries and Territories
Reef Check Global Network 1997-2001
** *
** **
*
*
**
***
*
***
**
*
**
* *** *
*
*
*
**
*
* *
*
***
*
*
*
**
*
** ***
**
**
*
* **
***
** *
******
***
**
** **
* *
*
*
*
Reef Check ResultsFirst scientific documentation of global
extent of coral reef crisis in 1997Tracked 1998 global bleaching, 10%
mortality confirmed in 1999High-value species missing from most
reefsRed Sea reefs -- healthiest in the worldMany remote reefs just as bad as those
near citiesMany marine parks are not working well
M o n ito ring
C o ra l R e e f C o n serva tion
M a na ge m e nt E d uca tion
R e e f C h e ck
Reef Check Strategy
Management Successes
Soufriere, St Lucia -- Marine Management Authority uses RC to demonstrate the value of the marine protected area (MPA) for fish
Gilutongan Island, Cebu, Philippines – local barrio decided to set up MPA after RC participation. Today most successful urban, no-take MPA in Philippines (Ross et al, 2000).
Management SuccessesHainan, PRC – government sets up
provincial monitoring and management program following RC training.
Education Successes
Recife, Brazil – local government decides to set up children’s reef education center after RC shows reef damage.
In collaboration with Friends of the Reef, RC Indo conducts art contest to educate school teachers and students in Bali.