The Transect Line – March/April 2018
Reef Check Foundation Welcomes New Executive Director

The Board of Directors of Reef Check Foundation is excited to welcome Dr. Jan Freiwald as its new Executive Director. Jan has led Reef Check’s California program for the past eight years, growing it into a vibrant, state-wide marine protected area monitoring network at over a hundred sites with hundreds of volunteer citizen scientists. Jan is replacing Dr. Gregor Hodgson, Reef Check’s founder, who retired at the end of March.
Rare Species Sighted in California, New Species Added to RCCA Survey Protocol


Reef Check California’s 2018 survey season is just beginning, but we have already made some interesting observations. Some species have become increasingly common in areas outside their typical range, prompting RCCA to add the Finescale Triggerfish and the Largemouth Blenny, among others, to the list of organisms our divers survey.
Nearly 2,700 kg of Trash Collected from Malaysia’s Beaches

Beach clean-up participants collected 400 bags of trash from part of Malaysia’s coastline. The clean-up is the first in a series of activities celebrating the International Year of the Reef 2018, and will hopefully raise awareness of the problem of marine debris, plastic in particular.

First Two RC Trainers in Oman Take Lead in Reef Conservation

Setting a historic precedent, Oman’s first two Reef Check trainers – Jenan Anwar Alasfoor (right) and Ali Saleh Ibrahim (left) – were recently certified and are eagerly working to conserve the country’s precious coral reefs.
Last Chance! Win a Place on a SCUBA Diving Expedition to Conserve Coral Reefs

Win a place to join a unique SCUBA diving coral reef conservation expedition to Oman, the Maldives or Malaysia with Biosphere Expeditions, Marine Conservation Society and Reef Check! The application deadline is June 1, 2018.
Educational EcoExpedition to Bangka Island Open for Registration

Registration, including five spots for fellowship winners, is now open for this year’s EcoExpedition to Bangka Island, Indonesia, organized in part by Reef Check Italy.

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