May 5, 1997 - Week 18
International Year of the Reef

Reef Check 1997 is an exciting, totally new global event designed to provide the first synoptic view of the health of the world's coral reefs. Between June 14 (Oceans Day) and August 31, 1997 more than 100 all-volunteer Reef Check teams in more than 30 countries will perform one-day rapid surveys of as many coral reef sites as possible. Each Reef Check team will consist of recreational divers and at least one professional marine scientist who will be responsible for ensuring the scientific quality of the surveys. Teams will use very basic survey methods which are simple enough for recreational divers to carry out (e.g. counting indicator species such as grouper or sea urchins, and measuring the live coral/dead coral ratio). These survey methods were specifically designed to detect human impacts on coral reefs throughout the world.

The two Reef Check objectives are 1) to obtain a global overview of human impacts on coral reefs, and 2) to focus the attention of the public, and business and government leaders on the value and status of coral reefs and the potential threats to their health. Reef Check organizers hope that this publicity will help generate more support for coral reef research and conservation.

On September 10, 1997, after all of the sites have been surveyed, Reef Check will hold press conferences in each participating country to announce the local, regional, and national results. An international press conference will be held in Hong Kong. In order to help disseminate the information gained from Reef Check, a live video satellite link will connect several representative sites.

The Global Headquarters of Reef Check is in the Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Regional Centers are located in Germany, France, United Kingdom, United States of America, Panama, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Australia. Additional volunteers are invited to create national and regional centers in other parts of the world.

Go to http://www.ust.hk/~webrc/reef.html for more detailed information about the following Reef Check items:

• Detailed description of Reef Check
• Core Methods
• Funding and Public Relations
• List of Participants
• List of Survey Sites
• Data Analysis and Reporting Protocols
• Registration Information
• Data Sheet
• Species Identification
• Site Description

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE REEF PLEASE CONTACT: