Northern CA PPSR Projects 1

Reef Check California

• Organization Name

  Reef Check
• Project Website

  http://www.reefcheck.org/rcca/rcca_home.php
• Organization Website

  http://www.reefcheck.org/
• Partners

  N / A
• Contact Name

  N / A
• Contact Email

  rcinfo@reefcheck.org
• Contact Phone

  N / A
• Other Contact Information

  See website for training schedule and sign-up procedure

• Project Purpose (taken from project materials)

  Survey nearshore reefs providing data on the status of key indicator species - assess the relative abundance and size distribution of target species and how these parameters are changing over time. This will permit the evaluation of population and community attributes at sites inside and outside of existing and proposed Marine Protected Areas and will provide insight into how different sites respond to newly imposed management measures.

• Participant Activities

  Volunteers conduct dives to survey species near California reefs. Based on the Department of Fish and Game's CRANE monitoring program, sites will contain three core 30 meter transects in each of two habitat zones (offshore and inshore reef), with a maximum depth limit of 18 m (~60') (see figure). At these core transects, divers will assess fishes, invertebrates, seaweed and substrate. In addition to the 6 core transects, divers will survey 12 fish- only transects that are distributed across the site (6 offshore and 6 inshore).

• Data Entry

  • Website
  • Data Sheets
• Other Participant Activities

  Reef Check Diver Forum: http://forum.reefcheck.org/phpbb3/viewforum.php?f=27&sid=229252220480198406230682fdc8885d

• System Studied

  • Marine
• Geographic Scope

  Statewide
• Region

  All (see 'geographic scope')
• Location

  Reefs along California Coast
• Location - Map

  17575 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades CA 90272-1057
• Time Commitment

  • Specific dates (see Other Information below)
• Volunteer Qualifications

  • Proof of dive certification
  • Minimum of 30 logged lifetime dives
  • Minimum of 15 logged dives in California or other temperate region with water temp below 68° F
  • Minimum of 6 dives within the last year
  • Minimum age of 16 on the first day of class
  • Completion of liability release
  • Completed reading of Reef Check California training manual

  Participants must provide all their own dive gear including weights and tanks. All training and research materials will be provided which include the Reef Check California training manual, indicator organism ID cards (flash cards and underwater ID card), dive slates, transect line and underwater data sheets.

• Volunteer Training

  In addition to direct survey methods, the training program will address safe diving practices, techniques of research diving, sampling design and theory, general marine ecology including species identification and interactions, and the importance of monitoring to meet marine management needs. Trainings include a combination of class room and field sessions. Following completion of the training, all participants will have the skills necessary to successfully complete the training examination allowing them to contribute data to the statewide database and will be eligible to obtain a Reef Check California Specialty Certification (NAUI or PADI). 
  
  see http://www.reefcheck.org/rcca/training_schedule.php for schedule
  
  Training costs:
  $50 for recertification
  $200 for shore based class
  $275 for 2-day boat dive class
  $300 for 2-day overnight boat dive class 

• Cost to Participant

  There is a cost to participate in the required training (see above)

• How will the findings be used?

  Data is mapped and downloadable at http://ned.reefcheck.org/

• Other Information

  Southern California Dive Schedule: http://forum.reefcheck.org/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1515
  Central/Northern California Schedule:
  http://forum.reefcheck.org/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1527 

• Photo

  N / A
• last update:

  N / A