The Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC) is just two months away! Held each July, the GAFC is an initiative to encourage divers and snorkelers to participate in the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project. This is a great way for anyone to get involved in citizen science and learn more about marine life by joining in ID classes and group dives. It's easy and fun to participate in the GAFC,. To get started, check out the FAQs below.
I want to attend a GAFC event. How can I learn what is happening and get involved?
Check out REEF’s online calendar of events to find GAFC events near you. You can also work with your local dive shop to organize a marine life ID class and/or a GAFC survey dive during the month of July. Feel free to get creative and turn your event into a social or cookout! To learn more about the GAFC and how to set up an event, visit www.fishcount.org.
Who can participate in the GAFC?
Anyone can join in the fun, whether you are a diver or a snorkeler. It doesn’t matter if you have done REEF surveys before or if you're brand new to surveying!
Why participate in the GAFC?
Conducting REEF surveys is a great way to add more excitement to your time in the water while collecting important information about the oceans. Your contributions provide valuable data to researchers as they monitor marine life. Volunteer divers and snorkelers conducting REEF surveys have discovered new species, helped establish the known range of certain species, tracked the spread of invasive species, and monitored changes to fish populations over time!
Can I only do this during the month of July?
REEF surveys can be conducted any time, year-round in any of REEF’s survey regions!
For more details on how to get started and to register your event, visit www.fishcount.org.