Reef Check:
Reef Check Australia is part of an
international non-profit organisation that works with communities,
governments and businesses to scientifically monitor, restore and
maintain coral reef health in over 80 tropical countries.
Coral reefs around the world are under enormous pressure from human
activities and climate change. To enable sustainable resource use it is
imperative that coral reef managers have access to information on how
the health of their coral reefs are affected by both human and natural
impacts. Although Australia's reefs are among the best managed in the
world, they are not immune to threats and the vast size of the Great
Barrier Reef makes it impossible for Governments to monitor its
entirety. By mobilising volunteer coral reef monitoring teams Reef Check
facilitates monitoring of Australian coral reefs that would otherwise
not be monitored by the Government.
Undersea Explorer is a major supporter of Reef Check Australia's Great
Barrier Reef Project. This project involves local recreational divers in
monitoring the health of more than 30 key dive sites on the Great
Barrier Reef and at Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea. Reef Check volunteers
monitor 6 of Undersea Explorer's dive sites each year. The project has
been running since 2001 and now has the support of more than 20 dive
operators in Queensland.
Leanne Thompson (Reef Check
Volunteer) at Challenger Bay
With the support of Undersea Explorer
Reef Check Australia provides the opportunity for you to participate in
the biggest coral reef monitoring effort in the world.
Reef Check has received international environmental awards for its work,
and is the United Nations' official community-based reef monitoring
program.
The Research
Reef Check volunteers learn how to conduct our scientific monitoring
program. This involves recording the health of the hard and soft coral,
incidence of algal blooms and other indicators of nutrient pollution, as
well as counting populations of fish and invertebrates. Volunteers learn
how to identify many coral reef species as well as how to collect
digital still and video images of key indicators of coral reef health.
Yacov Salomon (Reef Check Trainer) at Osprey Reef's North Horn
The data Reef Check volunteers collect is used both locally as well as
internationally for sustainable resource management. Reef Check
Australia data can be viewed online at
www.reefcheckaustralia.org/surveys
and is also integrated into Reef Check Headquarters' international
database (www.reefcheck.org)
as well as used in international reports (see
www.gcrmn.org).
Reef Check Australia Projects
Survey expeditions for our flagship Great Barrier Reef Project run
between February and June each weekend each year. Check out
www.reefcheckaustralia.org/projects
for the latest information on our projects.
Reef Check survey sites on the GBR
How can you get involved?
Volunteer
If you want to join our volunteer team check out
www.reefcheckaustralia.org/training
for details of our training programs. Reef Check
Australia also runs specialised group training programs on board
Undersea Explorer.
Internship Program
Reef Check Australia has a 6-month volunteer internship program which
runs from January to June and June to December each year. Interns assist
with coordinating Reef Check surveys as well as helping process and
report on our findings. Write to
support@reefcheckaustralia.org
if you would like to know more about this program.
Donate
Reef Check Australia is reliant upon private donations and grants to
continue our work. We are a member of the Australian Register of
Environmental Organisations and your donation is tax-deductible. You can
make a donation online by clicking the donation button below.
For more information on Reef Check Australia go to
www.reefcheckaustralia.org
