Reef Check Australia teams make regular visits to established monitoring sites to check up on reef health.

Our protocols are based on the standardised and peer-reviewed Reef Check monitoring methods, with additional regional indicators tailored to the Australia marine region.

For funded priority sites, survey teams will visit the site annually, taking a snapshot of what is happening on that reef to create long-term trend information and help identify changes in reef health. 

A standard survey includes documenting:

• reef composition (percent cover of what is making up the reef)
• signs of reef stress (abundance and severity of impacts)
• abundance of key invertebrates 
• abundance of indicator fish (as feasible)
• information about site use and disturbances

Survey protocol

Reef Check surveys are conducted along a transect line marked by a graduated tape measure that is laid along a constant depth and reef habitat. The transect length that is surveyed is 80m, divided into four 20m sections or transect replicates. Each 20m sections is separated by 5m or more to create independent replicates that can be compared within surveys as well as between surveys.

Substrate (Reef Composition)

Four 20m survey sections are completed along a 100m line marked out with tape and a point sample survey of the ground below (classified as either hard coral, soft coral, algae, rock, sponge, and others) is taken every 50cm.

Invertebrate & Impact 

On the same survey transect, surveyors complete a U-shaped search patterns on a 5m wide belt to record the number and size of indicator invertebrates (such as crown-of-thorns starfish, sea cucumbers, anemones and sea urchin species) discovered. Any reef health impacts (i.e. disease, drupella scars, anchor damage or bleaching) are recorded and photographs are taken for our database.

Fish

Along the same survey sections, a fish count through a 5m square tunnel is used to record the abundance and size of key indicator species, such as coral trout, butterflyfish, snapper and sweetlips.

Find out more about what and how we monitor in our Methods Manual.

Site selection

Survey sites are selected to be representative of the part of the reef and the scale of interest, also taking into considerations logistics and access. For 1 Reef Check survey our scale is small, and thus we interpret our data at the scale of a dive site. Where we are able to survey up to 3 Reef Check sites per location we are able to increase our confidence with interpretation to 1 km of reef.

Survey sites are not permanently marked, but are designed to be suitable as a representative location that can be visited year after year.  A system of GPS locations, maps, tide times and where feasible GPS tows helps teams return to as close as possible the the same site year after year. 

Site Access

We use a blend of approaches to help survey teams with minimum cost and maximum outcomes.

Many sites we visit are dive tourism locations and trip costs are supported through in-kind contributions of reduced cost boat trips from our Dive Industry Supporters. This approach lets us cut costs, check up on high-value tourism locations, and educate other reef visitors when our teams visit the reef.

We also charter vessels and organise speciality trips for locations that aren't visited through the tourism industry. 

How is the data used?

• Survey data is stored and shared via an online reef health database, with summaries accessible to the public and full data sets available for science and research applications. 
• Each season, we produce regional summary reports to report on findings from across each survey region.
• We share any urgent findings with scientists and marine managers in a timely fashion to provide an early warning system for relevant changes and disturbances on the reef.
• Data is also reported to the Reef Check international database. 

Data quality

To increase applications of RCA data for science and management applications, RCA undertook a study to identify how data collection methods and surveyor precision influences the data collected by RCA volunteers (Done et al. 2017). This study measured variation in the standardized Reef Check point-intercept sampling method, including the effect of transect deployment, site characteristics, and different observers collecting data.

The study revealed high accuracy in estimates of benthic cover by trained volunteers (± 93% of the absolute value). Coral cover estimates were shown to be more precise at sites with consistent habitat than sites with very patchy habitat. This evaluation of RCA data limitations, showcases the strength of interpretation for long-term trends and clarifies data utility for suitable applications.

Beyond standard Reef Check survey protocols, we have a number of adaptations and additions to expand the types of information collected by survey teams where useful. 

	Photo Transects A georeferenced photo transect may be used as a visual record to provide a permanent record of the coral and substrate on the site. This information was previously collected by videography and stored in our data library. Video transects can provide opportunities for more detailed analyses of the data by other parties.
	Reef habitat mapping We've worked with the Remote Sensing Research Centre from The University of Queensland to develop an adapted approach for applying the training and skills of Reef Check citizen scientists to ground-truth spatial data for reef habitat maps. Trained volunteers can be the eyes on the ground to help verify data from remote sensing images and also fill gaps in spatial coverage to help refine and support high-quality mapping outcomes.
	CoralWatch As a complementary data collection tool, we've developed a consistent approach to integrate CoralWatch surveys to document coral bleaching trend data into survey protocols. The Coral Health Chart is based on concentration of symbiotic algae contained in the coral tissue, providing insights into coral health.
	Eye on the Reef Some of our volunteers have been trained to use the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Eye on the Reef Health Impact Surveys and Rapid Survey protocols. Information from these surveys goes directly to the Australian Government.

The Reef Check approach offers benefits beyond the data. Our projects provide a platform for many types of people and organisations to collaborate to inform and engage local communities in understanding, appreciating and acting on reef health issues.

In addition to data collection, an important part of the citizen science cycle is to communicate results to participants and the broader public to provide opportunities for engagement in science literacy and conservation. There is increasing recognition of the importance of building active community support for conservation activities. For example:

• A key target of the Australian Biodiversity Strategy is increasing the number of Australians participating in biodiversity conservation (Natural Research Management Ministerial Council, 2010).
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals promote greater community participation in decision making, and incorporate targets requiring active community support (United Nations, 2015).
• The Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan (Commonwealth of Australia 2015) aims to strengthen programs to
  understand and promote the reef’s values, threats, and how community members can play a role in protecting the reef. 
  
  

As part of the Reef Check approach, course participants, surveyor, project partners and the wider community have opportunities to become informed, engaged and empowered to actively participate in protecting reef health.  

A key strategy in expanding our reach with science and conservation messages is the Reef Ambassador program, training community outreach volunteers to inspire understanding, appreciation and positive grassroots action in their communities.