REEF is pleased to welcome Stephanie Roach from Camp Hill, PA as the 2008 REEF Summer Intern and Great Annual Fish Count Coordinator (GAFC). Her internship is supported by the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society. The REEF internship program provides college age juniors, seniors and graduate students the opportunity to experience working at a nonprofit environmental organization. REEF interns assist REEF staff with education, outreach and a multitude of programming.
The Dive Club of Silicon Valley at Diver Dans, Santa Clara, CA is hosting a Fish ID Survey Event on July 12 at noon at Lovers Point, Pacific Grove. A BBQ is sponsored by the Dive Club.
For more information, please contact:
Kari Larson
408-733-4510
This year we would like to get more volunteers into the water conducting fish surveys. The fun part of the GAFC is not just the talks, but afterward getting into the water to do the surveys. You can help by organizing a GAFC dive. It's easy to do:
REEF’s mission is to empower recreational divers and snorkelers to contribute meaningfully to marine conservation through our REEF Volunteer Survey Project. In order to carry out this effort, REEF offers free membership, monthly e-news, an annual newsletter and access to numerous marine conservation resources and information.
Hello Friends and Field Stations,
The 17th Great Annual Fish Count is rapidly approaching. We are counting on you to reach out to your divers and local communities this July and get them involved in some fun marine conservation through fish-watching.
The idea of an annual fish monitoring came over 25 year ago, with the first official Great American Fish Count (GAFC) in 1992. Dr. Gary Davis led the Channel Islands National Park effort as way to encourage sport divers to report fish sightings. The small number of marine scientists, the immensity of the oceans and the scarcity of funding required that volunteers be trained to assist with a nation-wide fish monitoring effort.
The 17th Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC) is just around the corner. While REEF staff updates the event website, www.fishcount.org, we are asking our field stations and partners to begin planning their 2008 GAFC activities.
Hello and Happy April!
This 6th annual event takes place at Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, MA and Nubble Light in York, ME.
The celebration will be centered around Cape Ann, along with dives at Nubble Light. There will be a picnic, free raffles and door prizes. Every survey form submitted after each dive will count as an entry into the raffles for each diver.
The Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC) is an opportunity for divers and snorkelers to participate in a fun and educational program while contributing to marine conservation. During the month of July, REEF HQ, Field Stations and partners offer a variety of fish-counting activities. This will be the 17th year for the event.
Participation can be as simple as conducting as many survey dives in and around coastal waters as you like. Or, take a dive with your favorite dive operator or local dive club.