The Transect Line - January 2008

The Transect Line – January 2008

Reef Check Website Relaunched
	Reef Check recently relaunched its website, www.ReefCheck.org, with an all new design. Be sure to check it out and let us know what you think!
Reef Check Featured in Dive Training Magazine
	Dive Training Magazine's January 2008 issue features a story on Reef Check by Alex Brylske called “Reef Check: Enlisting Divers to Monitor the World's Coral Reefs.” Click here to read a PDF file of the article. “It's often been said that coral reefs are the rain forests of the ocean. Their value to the marine environment is immeasurable but, sadly, their future is uncertain. Now, with the help of volunteer divers, scientists are finding ways to better monitor the condition of the reefs, gaining a better understanding of the role reefs play in the environment, and providing hope that man can do something about coral reefs before it's too late.”
Reef Check California
	Sign up for a Training or Recertification Course Reef Check California training and recertification courses are filling up fast! Trainings will be offered in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Rosa in 2008. Reserve your spot today!
	Job Opening: Reef Check California Program Manager The Reef Check Foundation seeks a Program Manager to oversee daily operations and further develop the education and outreach components of the California Program. Based at our global headquarters in Pacific Palisades, California, this position will focus on program and grant management, program development, fundraising through grants and sponsorship, partner support and development, public and media relations, government coordination and integration with the Reef Check tropical program…

International Year of the Reef

International Year of the Reef 2008
The excitement about the International Year of the Reef grows as 2008 progresses. Following are some of the many events already planned:

1.	The IYOR international launch will start with a kickoff event and reception on January 24th at the World Bank in Washington D.C. and culminate with a symposium on the 25th at the Mexican Culture Center. The second event is rather appropriate as the U.S. and Mexico are co-chairing the International Coral Reef Initiative Secretariat from 2007-2009.
2.	In Mexico, the Centro Ecologico Akumal in Akumal Quintana Roo will hold a Reefs Photo Show on January 29th to kick off the International Year of the Reef. The deadline to submitphotos is January 25th.
3.	Reef Check and Reef Check Australia will also behosting an international ocean photo competition….

Have you signed the International Declaration of Reef Rights?
Join the 7100 ocean lovers from 120 countries who already have!

Click here to sign the International Declaration of Reef Rights

Click here to find out what others around the world are saying about the International Declaration of Reef Rights

Reef Check Teams in Action

British Embassy in Santo Domingo Supports Coral Reef Conservation Efforts in the Dominican Republic

Through its Bilateral Project Budget, the British Embassy in Santo Domingo has signed a co-operation agreement for the conservation of the coral reefs of La Caleta National Park, implemented by Reef Check Dominican Republic and the Ministry of Environment. With this agreement, the Embassy will donate approximately US$30

,000 for Reef Check to install a buoy system at La Caleta dive sites, preventing the destruction of the reef due to the use of boat anchors.

Mark Your Calendars

Reef Check Pulau Weh, Sumatra EcoExpedition – April 7-17, 2008

Reef Check will be leading a new EcoExpedition to the amazing island of Pulau Weh at the northern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia. Join Reef Check scientist Kim Obermeyer and local coral reef conservationists from Pulau Weh to survey and monitor coral reefs in this world-class Marine Protected Area.

Red Sea Reef Check Safari with Sinai Divers – May 8-15, 2008

Join Sinai Divers and Reef Check aboard the Ghazala I on this 7-night liveaboard safari in the Red Sea. Enjoy the colorful soft corals, fascinating variety of fishes and with some luck, even Sharks and Manta Rays may be encountered. A special extra on this safari is that you will be accompanied by marine biologists, who will teach you the Reef Check protocol. Sinai Divers will donate 10% of the earnings to Reef Check.

Reef Check and Earthwatch Team Up for Thailand EcoExpeditions

Snorkel and dive Thailand's amazing coral reefs to conserve biodiversity. Thailand's coral reefs are some of the most magnificent and diverse on Earth. Like many of the world's reef systems, Thailand's reefs are facing the pressures of overfishing and destructive fishing practices, like cyanide poisoning and explosives, as well as the threats posed by global warming and coral diseases. Reef Check's Dr. Georg Heiss and Kim Obermeyer are joining forces with Earthwatch to do baseline assessments of Thailand's resplendent coral reefs and to set up a long-term monitoring program. There are 8 expeditions scheduled for 2008- book your spot today!