About Reef Watch

What is Reef Watch?



Reef Watch is a project that encourages divers and snorkellers to monitor marine life at their favourite dive sites. The project has been developed by the Australian Marine Conservation Society and the Marine and Coastal Community Network.

It is a non-profit project funded by the Federal and State Governments through Coast Action/Coastcare.

The aims of Reef Watch

Reef Watch will aim to:

Develop local knowledge in the dive community about the significance of cool water marine habitats and species;

Develop a more highly valued marine environment in the broader community;

Encourage effective policies and actions to protect and enhance Victoria's marine environment.

Why Reef Watch?

Victoria's marine environment is part of Australia's unique southern Australian Marine Region.

Most of the marine species found in southern Australia's waters are found nowhere else in the world.

Greater knowledge of our marine environment will lead to improved management and conservation.

By participating in Reef Watch you can really help.

How does Reef Watch work?

Reef Watch volunteer divers will be supplied with a Reef Watch Monitoring kit to carry out surveys in areas in which they choose to monitor.

This resource and identification courses will help divers and snorkellers to:

Monitor and report seasonal changes in plants and animals;

Report special natural history phenomena or events;

Serve as a 'Neighbourhood Watch' program- reporting exotic pest invasions, illegal fishing practice, dumping and polluting.

DIVERS PLEASE NOTE:
Participants will be responsible for all their own equipment, transport and safe diving practices.

Where is Reef Watch?

Despite it's name Reef Watch is not restricted to reefs, divers may choose to monitor other marine habitats including: sponge gardens, seagrass beds, kelp forests, or sandy ocean floors.

Surveys will occur along the entire coastline and out to the State limit (5.5 km offshore). Key species will be monitored: including algae, seagrasses, invertebrates and fish. Surveys can be taken at any time of the year.

Survey data collected will be validated and logged onto the Reef Watch web site database. This information will be available to other divers, community groups and individuals, government organisations and education facilities.

How you get involved in Reef Watch

If you want to learn more about your local marine habitat and assist in protecting our natural heritage, then register to become a Reef Watch Volunteer.

Contact your Reef Watch Coordinator, dive club or dive shop.