Abstract

What can we do with 30 years of fish monitoring data in the Gulf and Caribbean region, representing more than 190,000 hours of underwater survey time? And why does it matter that over 12,500 volunteers have conducted these surveys? REEF’s Volunteer Fish Survey Project started in 1993 as a way for recreational divers and snorkelers to report fish sightings during their time in the water. Each roving diver REEF survey includes a checklist of fish species positively identified, a log-scale estimate of abundance, and survey metadata. The program started in the tropical western Atlantic and has since expanded to tropical and temperate waters world-wide. Data generated from this program are made freely available and to date have been used in over 150 scientific publications, on topics ranging from marine reserve efficacy to tracking invasives to understanding the impact of climate on range shifts. Beyond these studies, the data have been use to document new species, and to better understand species-specific distributions, commonness, and habitat specialization. Citizen science programs such as this both empower members of the public to generate monitoring data, and promote active public participation in resource management and science. To facilitate volunteer participation in the survey project, as well as to educate the wider public about the oceans, REEF has created a portfolio of free and low-cost training and education products. This presentation will provide an overview of the program, its impact and value.