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

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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.