Ocean Care collects Reef Check
coral reef monitoring protocol
PHILIPSBURG--The Ocean Care foundation has picked up its Reef Check coral reef monitoring protocol.
The protocol, which is done on an international scale, is used to gauge the health of coral reefs around the world. Groups of volunteer divers, lead by Ocean Care, record information on the health and diversity of coral reef, as well as on reef fish and invertebrate populations.
Ocean Care biologist Rikke Speetjens enters the information into the Reef Check database. With the help of the database marine scientists from around the world can gauge the health of coral reefs on both a global and local scale.
In 2005, St. Maarten, as the rest of the Caribbean, witnessed a massive coral bleaching event that killed approximately 30% of all coral around the island. The bleaching is caused by rising sea temperatures due to climate change.
Already the Reef Check group has noticed a rise in local temperatures. If the water temperature rises more than 1 degree Celsius above the normal highest temperature, corals will start to bleach.
The divers have also noticed large amounts of loose fishing gear as well as other trash that is harmful to the life on St Maarten’s reefs.
In May, Ocean Care will send board members Jesus Ruiz Lopez and Tadzio Bervoets to the Dominican Republic for the International Reef Check Symposium, which will last for four days.
At the symposium, they will receive additional information and training which will enable the foundation to further expand its Reef Check capabilities on St. Maarten as well as on other interested islands.
The most recent Reef Check dive was held last Saturday in observance of Earth Day. For additional information, see also:
www.reefcheck.org .
St Maarten vacation rental
