NOAA's Reporter's Coral Reef Tip Sheet
June 16, 1997 - Week 24

Renowned marine explorer/scientist Jean-Michel Cousteau and Dr. Sylvia Earle invite divers  and snorkelers to participate in the Great American Fish Count (GAFC), the underwater equivalent of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count.
 
Like its avian counterpart, the Great American Fish Count uses a network of volunteers to provide ongoing documentation of fish diversity and population trends.  The information gathered by volunteers is then made available to the scientific community.  Scientists from the National Marine Sanctuary Program, part of the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are among the users of this data.

The Great American Fish Count takes place over a two-week period each year from July 1 through July 14.  Divers and snorkelers concentrate their fish-sighting efforts in National Marine Sanctuary communities which include the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary , and the  Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary .

"I want to challenge divers to get in the water with me and help count fish," said Cousteau. "The Great American Fish Count is an excellent way for divers and snorkelers to put their skills to use for an important cause. This is an exciting opportunity to learn more about our local underwater wildlife and at the same time participate in an important environmental bench marking effort."

The Great American Fish Count was started in 1992 in southern California by Channel Islands National Park biologists, who were accompanied by 50 volunteers, as a way to encourage divers to report fish sightings.  Year-round fish sighting activities are conducted by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation, which will coordinate the data gathering efforts of the Great American Fish Count and make the information available to scientists on its website, www.reef.org.
"1997 is a landmark year for the marine environment," said Earle.  "It is the International Year of the Coral Reef, the 25th Anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary Program, and the first time the Great American Fish Count will take place on a national scale."

The Great American Fish Count is a cooperative effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program, and three non-profit organizations including REEF: The Reef Environmental Education Foundation, The Marine Conservation Network, and the American Oceans Campaign.

Volunteers who wish to participate in Great American Fish Count activities must receive training in fish identification and survey methods.   For a nominal fee divers will receive the training, the necessary survey materials and a national Great American Fish Count t-shirt.
 

West Coast Region (CA, OR, WA)
Marine Conservation Network
(510) 838-2544

South Atlantic and Gulf Coast (FL, GA, Caribbean)
Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)
(305) 451-0312

Western Gulf Coast (TX, LA)
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
(409)779-2705