July is right around the corner, which means it is almost time for the Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC)! This annual event is a time meant to celebrate and amplify the power of citizen science, and we hope you all will join in on the fun!
Throughout the entire month of July, divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts alike gather to learn more about their local marine life and contribute valuable data to the Volunteer Fish Survey Project by doing REEF surveys. Dive shops, organizations, and like-minded groups around the world register their own GAFC events in their community, which typically include a free marine life ID class and/or a survey dive or snorkel. These events are a fantastic way to get involved - no matter if you're a Golden Hamlet or newer to surveying. To see what's available in your area, visit www.REEF.org/GAFC.
Did we mention you can win a prize? That's right! Every survey conducted and submitted in July gets entered into a special drawing. Do a survey, contribute important data to conservation science, and potentially win a REEF rash guard and a marine life ID book of your choice (some exclusions apply). What could be better?
Wondering if you can only do REEF surveys during the month of July? The answer is NO! REEF needs survey data year-round. The month of July is a time dedicated to celebrating the Volunteer Fish Survey Project and our existing surveyors, while aiming to spread awareness to new communities and get new folks involved.