1999 GREAT AMERICAN
FISH COUNT INFORMATION

Jacksonville University
Reid Science Hall
June 23, 1999 6 PM to 10 PM

The Great American Fish Count (GAFC) is an annual event that provides an opportunity for divers to participate in a fun and educational activity while contributing to the preservation of the marine environment.

The following information is provided regarding the Great American Fish Count

• What is the Great American Fish Count (GAFC)
• Who is sponsoring the GAFC
• Who can participate in the GAFC
• How are fish ID surveys conducted for the GAFC?
• How can I sign up for the GAFC?

WHAT IS THE GREAT AMERICAN FISH COUNT?

The event began in 1992 in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary with divers from the Channel Islands National Park, California, as a way to encourage divers to report fish sightings. This survey, modeled after the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, has become an annual event and has expanded to include sites around the coastal United States. The Great American Fish Count provides on-going documentation of fish diversity and long term trends in fish populations. In addition, it promotes increased awareness and understanding of temperate and tropical reef systems.

WHO IS SPONSORING THE GREAT AMERICAN FISH COUNT?

In 1997, several organizations, including the Jacksonville Reef Research Team worked together to expand training, data management, and education. The Jacksonville Reef Research Team trained over 20 divers in the North Florida area to identify and count fish.  This was the Team's first time to sponsor the Great American Fish Count.  This will become an annual event in the North Florida area.   Additional partners in the Great American Fish Count include the following:

• Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
• Channel Islands National Park
• Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
• Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary
• Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
• The Marine Conservation Network
• Reef Environmental Education Foundation
• American Oceans Campaign
• The Nature Conservancy

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE 1998 GREAT AMERICAN FISH COUNT?

Volunteer divers, dive centers, instructors, divemasters, and dive clubs are needed. Dive centers can assist by publicizing the event, organizing teams of divers and teaching fish identification seminars. Instructors and divemasters can provide additional on-site assistance and lead survey dives.  Dive clubs can organize a "Fish Count" as a club event.

HOW ARE THE SURVEYS CONDUCTED?

The survey techniques used for this event are easy to learn. During a normal recreational dive, roving divers use a simple relative abundance survey method. All a diver needs is an underwater slate, survey forms and fish identification materials. The short, pre-survey training sessions will include seminars on local fish identification and the survey method. Survey instructions are also included with survey packets, available through a mail-in registration process. Divers participate by simply diving as frequently as they like, within the July 1 - 14 time period at the designated sites

HOW CAN I SIGN UP FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN FISH COUNT?

For more information about the the Great American Fish Count or to sign up, contact:

FLORIDA EVENT

• GAFC Diver Seminars:
  • Jacksonville, June 23, 1999 with the Jacksonville Reef Research Team, phone: Jim Cribb at (904) 264-0520.

*Note: The Jacksonville Reef Research Team, and numerous dive operators and Reef Research Teams in the  Florida Keys and Palm Beach will be teaching GAFC seminars throughout the June 1999 timeframe in preparation for the 1999 Great American Fish Count. In the Jacksonville area, contact Jim Cribb at (904)   264-0520, in the Palm Beach and Florida Keys area, contact REEF at (305) 451-0312 for additional  information. Participants will receive a survey kit containing GAFC T-shirt, REEF survey forms, underwater paper, color underwater fish ID card and slate.