Divers, Snorklers Worldwide Urged To Help With Reef, Habitat Data - BBC

[hatrack]

"Divers and snorkellers across the globe are being enlisted to help save the seas and oceans. They are being asked to record the health of the marine environment, including coral reefs, mangrove swamps and coastal waters, for a new project. Divers log observations on a website for Earthdive, backed by the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep).

Founder Chris Long warned of "dire consequences for the global population" if threats such as pollution continue. Mr Long, himself a keen diver, said: "Earthdive wants people with an interest in diving to understand that what they see in the oceans is not just beautiful, it also sustains human life, and they can help to preserve it by simply recording what they see."

EDIT

The logs will record the key species and the anthropogenic - or human - impact on them, for example through tourism, litter or over-fishing. There are 30 ecological regions across the globe and each region has its own set of five indicator species.

Anyone taking part in the project will receive briefing packs on how to do it. They will also be given information on the regions."

EDIT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3929647.stm

[MuseRider]

1. I have done that for years

every dive I carry a little chart and record what I see. It is too bad I live in Kansas and can only go every year or so. It is sad to see the changes that I see when I return to a place. Often the stories are quite sad.

[Divernan]

2. thanks for the link-I'll pass it on to my scuba buddies

Worst place I've seen in the Caribbean is the lower Bahamas/Exuma - water has gotten so warm - one patch was 88 degrees!. I saw areas of dead coral I haven't seen anywhere else.

[hatrack]

3. Friends of mine who dive say similar things about much of the Carib.

The word is that it's well on the way to becoming the next Mediterranean - most reefs all but dead.