Overview of Reef Check Australia activities in 2009.

1. Reef Check Australia!
Amazing achievements fueled by passion!

2. What is Reef Check?!
• International organisation dedicated to conservation of
tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs."
• Volunteer teams active in monitoring the health of coral
reefs in over 90 countries."
• Reef Check Australia is an independent Australian non-
profit which is part of the International Reef Check network."
The new threat of climate change increases
the need for coral reef monitoring"

3. Reef Check Australia!
Vision!
To promote healthy coral reefs through the education "
and support of local communities."
Mission!
To promote healthy coral reefs [in Australia and the Indo Pacific] through
scientific research, community education and marine conservation."
• Projects established 2001 on a volunteer basis"
• Run on small grants 2003-6"
• Established 2004 as a non-profit Company (tax-deductible status)"
• Significant support GBRMPA & MTSRF support from 2006"
• 2008-9 aim to complement government support with corporate
sponsorship"

4. Our Projects!
Research: community coral reef monitoring"
• GBR Project:"
• Palm Island Community Project:"
• Coral Trout:"
• Inshore Reef Monitoring"
• South East Queensland Project"
• Enterprise Information System [Database]!
Education!
• Reef IQ"
• EcoAction"
Communications!

5. GBR Project!
Purpose : To provide GBR stakeholders with a cost
effective ʻearly warning systemʼ of changes in key reef
health indicators of economically important coral reef sites."
Achivements (since 2001)!
• Intensive community training of scuba divers."
• Precise information on coral reef health/resilience"
• Surveys organised by volunteers on placement."
• In-kind berth space from > 20 dive operators."
• Potential to respond to bleaching events and
track recovery / increase our knowledge"

6. Indigenous Community
Project: Palm Island Pilot! Coolgaree
CDEP"
Purpose : To provide capacity building to Palm Island
community to monitor the health of their local coral reefs."
The long-term aim is to provide capacity for coastal Indigenous
community members to participate in environmental
management and help to generate employment opportunities."
Achievements:!
• 3 Sponge Farm divers trained in Reef Check"
• Children participate in Reef Check school education program"
• Potential to develop a model for other communities to be
engaged and integrate into TUMRAs!

7. Fishing Line
Cleanup!
Purpose:!
To count and clear line from “Effects of Zoning “ survey "
sites to enable researchers to count subsequent
accumulation of new line in Green and Blue zones."
Activities:!
• 12 sites (28800m2) cleared of line around the Palm
Islands"
• 544 pieces of line were collected."

8. Coral Trout Survey!
Purpose: To provide meaningful opportunities
for recreational fishers to contribute to our
scientific knowledge of the status and trends of
popular fish species (e.g. coral trout) and their
habitat.!
Activities (09):!
• Developed scientific (timed swim) protocol for
recreational fishers and tourists to monitor fish
stock and habitat."
• Launch planned for 2009: subject to completion
of our database!

9. Database!
Purpose: To design an Enterprise Information System to store
and disseminate Reef Check information. "
Design: Flexibility, portability, interoperability & ease-of-use to
accommodate future initiatives, to promote collaborative data
sharing between stakeholders & to ultimately increase early
warning signs on reef health degradation."
Achievements!
• Developed specifications plan"
• Phase one under construction!

10. Inshore Reef Monitoring!
Purpose : To provide GBR stakeholders with a cost
effective ʻearly warning systemʼ of changes in key reef
health indicators of inshore coral reef sites that are
important to their local communities."
Activities ( currently not funded )!
• 6 sites Magnetic Is & 6 sites Palm Is Group"

11. SEQ Project!
Purpose : To provide stakeholders with a cost effective ʻearly
warning systemʼ of changes in key reef health indicators for the
fringing coral reefs between the Sunshine Coast & Gold Coast."
Activities!
• 12 sites monitored 2008"
• Raw data to be integrated into SEQ Catchments GIS
database for Water Quality Improvement Planning from 2009."

12. EcoAction!
Purpose: To provide opportunities for snorkelers "
& new scuba divers (young people & adults) to "
become involved in coral reef monitoring activities."
EcoAction Programs:!
1. Underwater Reef Guide"
2. Discover Reef Check"
3. EcoDiver"
• Activities that tourists and young people can participate in on a coral
reef."
• Sold as ecotourism activities through Reef Check partner operators."
• Launch aim: 2009-10"

13. Reef IQ: Be Proactive!
Purpose: Reef IQ is a proactive program aimed at helping to prevent
the symptoms of coral reef degradation by tackling the causes. "
Reef IQ will increase awareness of coral reef issues, engendering
behavioural change towards more sustainable practices & providing
young people with the skills, knowledge & capacity to partake in
environmental monitoring, decision-making & conservation."
Achievements!
• High-quality educational materials, that will be freely available on the
internet"
• Most of the program developed by VOLUNTEERS"

14. Communications!
General!
• Quarterly newsletter"
• Photo competition"
• Media (newspaper, CSA)"
Dive operators (Operator Info Pack)!
• GBR Project Newsletter"
• Brochure"
• Information booklet (Dec 2008)"
• Promotion DVD"
• Poster (2009)"
• Workshops / meetings / crew training (2009-10)"
• EcoAction Program sales materials"

15. Looking Forward!
"Aim to secure continued
Government support as well as
corporate sponsorship to:"
• Enable strategic growth"
• Be able to respond to new threats
e.g. climate change response unit"
• Cash flow to maintain projects"
• Increase stability for staff"
• Enable high quality outputs that
can help to protect our coral reefs."

16. Our achievements have been realised through
the tremendous passion for our cause by local
and international people, businesses and
government."