When conducting a REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project (VFSP) survey, the surveyor keeps track of species encountered while in the water that are positively identified (all fish, all sea turtles, and depending on region, a set list of invertebrates and algae) and each species is given an abundance category (Single, Few, Many, Abundant) based on how many were encountered during the survey. A series of metadata for the survey is also recorded (location, habitat, date, etc) are recorded.

This page describes the metadata fields for the VFSP.

Standard metadata fields for all surveys

  • Member Number (unique number assigned to the surveyor)
  • Geographic Zone Code (unique 8-digit code for the survey site, based on a heirarchical set of codes for each region, see www.REEF.org/db/zonecodes)
  • Survey Date
  • Start Time (round to the nearest hour)
  • Bottom Time (in minutes, time spent in the water searching)
  • Water Temperature at the Bottom
  • Water Temperature at the Surface
  • Maximum Depth Surveyed (in 3m/10' ranges)
  • Average Depth Surveyed (in 3m/10' ranges)
  • Horizontal Underwater Visibility (under 10', 10'-24', 25'-49', 50'74', 75'-99', 100'-149', over 149')
  • Current (strong-hard to swim against, mild-present but did not serious affect the dive, none)
  • Habitat (select the one habitat over which you spent the majority of time surveying; see below for regional lists)

If snorkeling, for water depth, select "Snorkel" for Average Depth and then for Maximum Depth, select the appropriate depth range for the deepest water you were snorkeling over.

Habitat Options by Region

TWA

High Profile Reef is a reef where most structures rise four or more feet off the bottom.
Low Profile Reef is a reef where most structures average less than four feet off the bottom.
Sloping Dropoff is an angled slope dropping into open water.
Wall is a vertical dropoff of over 20 feet that faces open water.
Ledge is a single or few sharp drops in bottom topography of three or more feet that may or may not face open water.
Grass is where sea grasses are the predominant feature.
Sandy Bottom/Mud/Silt/Mangrove is where little to no rocks occur; bottom is composed of sand, sometimes mixed with silt or mud, may include mangroves.
Rubble is where broken coral, rock and gravel comprise the bulk of the bottom material.
Artificial includes shipwrecks, platforms, dumped debris or other artificially created habitats (incl. jetties).
Open Ocean is a deep water area away from substrate where the bottom is not visible.
Cobblestone/Boulder Fields/Escarpment is where rocks, boulders, or steep slope/long rock compose a majority of the bottom.

NE

High Profile Reef is a reef where most structures rise four or more feet off the bottom.
Low Profile Reef is a reef where most structures average less than four feet off the bottom.
Wall is a vertical dropoff of over 20 feet that faces open water.
Ledge is a single or few sharp drops in bottom topography of three or more feet that may or may not face open water.
Grass is where sea grasses are the predominant feature.
Sandy Bottom/Mud/Silt/Mangrove is where little to no rocks occur; bottom is composed of sand, sometimes mixed with silt or mud, may include mangroves.
Rubble/Boulder is where broken rock, boulders and/or gravel comprise the bulk of the bottom material.
Artificial includes shipwrecks, platforms, dumped debris or other artificially created habitats (incl. jetties).
Open Ocean is a deep water area away from substrate where the bottom is not visible.

SAS

High Profile Natural Hard Bottom is where exposed rocky outcrop substrate protrudes from the sea floor four or more feet from the bottom.
Low Profile Natural Hard Bottom is where exposed rocky outcrop substrate protrudes from the sea floor less than four feet from the bottom.
Artificial includes shipwrecks, platforms, dumped debris or other artificially created habitats (incl. jetties).
Ledge is a single or few sharp drops in bottom topography of three or more feet that may or may not face open water.
Rubble/Boulder is where broken rock, boulders and/or gravel comprise the bulk of the bottom material.
Grass is where sea grasses are the predominant feature.
Sandy Bottom/Mud/Silt/Mangrove is where little to no rocks occur; bottom is composed of sand, sometimes mixed with silt or mud, may include mangroves.
Open Ocean is a deep water area away from substrate where the bottom is not visible.

PAC (PNW and CAL)

Kelp Forest consists of giant strands of brown kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) growing from a rocky substrate.
Rock Boulder/Shale Reef is where a rocky or shale-like substrate protrudes from the sea floor, and may be covered in low algae (sea palms, feather boa, etc), coral, sponge, or other living organisms.
Artificial includes shipwrecks, platforms, dumped debris or other artificially created habitats (incl. jetties).
Open Ocean is a deep water area away from substrate where the bottom is not visible.
Eel Grass Bed (Zostera sp) are calm water areas composed of sand and eel grass.
Surf Grass Bed (Phyospadix sp.) are found at the edge of kelp forests or rocky reef areas near shore and are typically associated with high wave energy.
Pinnacle is a large rock or group of rocks with steep sides that rises from deep water toward the surface.
Bull Kelp (Nereocystis sp.) are areas covered by long tube-like strands that grow from a rocky sea floor to the surface, where they end as large bulbs.
Sandy Bottom/Mud/Silt is where little to no rocks occur; bottom is composed of sand, sometimes mixed with silt or mud, may include mangroves.
Cobblestone/Boulder Field are where small rocks or boulders compose a majority of the bottom, usually wave impacted areas.
Wall is a vertical dropoff of over 20 feet that faces open water.

TEP

Rock Boulder/Shale Reef is where a rocky or shale-like substrate protrudes from the sea floor, and may be covered in low algae (sea palms, feather boa, etc), coral, sponge, or other living organisms.
Wall is a vertical dropoff of over 20 feet that faces open water.
Pinnacle is a large rock or group of rocks with steep sides that rises from deep water toward the surface.
Sandy Bottom/Mud/Silt/Mangrove is where little to no rocks occur; bottom is composed of sand, sometimes mixed with silt or mud, may include mangroves.
Open Ocean is a deep water area away from substrate where the bottom is not visible.
Artificial includes shipwrecks, platforms, dumped debris or other artificially created habitats (incl. jetties).
Rocky, Boulder, Sand Slope is a sloping drop-off where the bottom is a mixture of large and small rocks (typical habitat in the Galapagos).

HAW

High Profile Reef is a reef where most structures rise four or more feet off the bottom.
Low Profile Reef is a reef where most structures average less than four feet off the bottom.
Rocky Boulders/Volcanic is where the bottom consists of ridges, tunnels, caverns or boulders that were formed by volcanic lava.
Wall is a vertical dropoff of over 20 feet that faces open water.
Ledge is a single or few sharp drops in bottom topography of three or more feet that may or may not face open water.
Sandy Bottom/Mud/Silt/Mangrove is where little to no rocks occur; bottom is composed of sand, sometimes mixed with silt or mud, may include mangroves.
Artificial includes shipwrecks, platforms, dumped debris or other artificially created habitats (incl. jetties).

SOP/CIP/IORS

High Profile Reef is a reef where most structures rise four or more feet off the bottom.
Low Profile Reef is a reef where most structures average less than four feet off the bottom.
Pinnacle is a large rock or group of rocks with steep sides that rises from deep water toward the surface.
Wall is a vertical dropoff of over 20 feet that faces open water.
Sandy Bottom/Mud/Silt/Mangrove is where little to no rocks occur; bottom is composed of sand, sometimes mixed with silt or mud, may include mangroves.
Rubble is where broken coral, rock and gravel comprise the bulk of the bottom material.
Grass is where sea grasses are the predominant feature.
Artificial includes shipwrecks, platforms, dumped debris or other artificially created habitats (incl. jetties).
Open Ocean is a deep water area away from substrate where the bottom is not visible.
Cobblestone/Boulder Fields/Escarpment is where rocks, boulders, or steep slope/long rock compose a majority of the bottom.

EAM

Cobblestone/Boulder Fields/Escarpment is where rocks, boulders, or steep slope/long rock compose a majority of the bottom.
Volcanic is where the bottom consists of ridges, tunnels, caverns, or boulders that were formed by volcanic lava.
Sandy Bottom/Mud/Silt/Mangrove is where little to no rocks occur; bottom is composed of sand, sometimes mixed with silt or mud, may include mangroves.
Artificial includes shipwrecks, platforms, dumped debris or other artificially created habitats (incl. jetties).
Pinnacle is a large rock or group of rocks with steep sides that rises from deep water toward the surface.
Open Ocean is a deep water area away from substrate where the bottom is not visible.
High Profile Coral Reef is a coral reef where most structures rise four or more feet off the bottom.
Low Profile Coral Reef is a coral reef where most structures average less than four feet off the bottom.