Sustainable
Seas Expeditions andThe Sustainable Seas Expeditions (SSE) project is a $6 million initiative to explore, document and provide critical scientific data on America's coastal waters. Launched this spring, it's goal is to develop a strategy for the restoration and conservation of the nation's marine resources.
Cooperation
between the Sustainable Seas Expedition, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Great American Fish Count
(GAFC) make it possible for ordinary divers to be a large and
important part of this unique effort.
The five-year SSE project, which will use new technologies to pioneer deep exploration, will be funded with a grant of $5 million from the Richard & Rhoda Goldman Fund, a philanthropic and environmental foundation based in San Francisco, and $775,000 from the National Geographic Society's Exploration Council.
SSE will work with the managers of the National Marine Sanctuaries, which are government-proclaimed reserves administered by the NOAA. There are three large sanctuaries off California including the Channel Islands, Monterey and Gulf of Farallons National Marine Sanctuaries.
The National Marine Sanctuaries are also cooperating with the Great American Fish Count in shallow water fish surveys that the citizen diver can conduct. The Great American Fish Count takes place July 1-14 as well as year-round in various locations.
These
two projects are creating base-line data for monitoring of the
sanctuaries and surrounding waters, comparing relatively pristine
coasts with those that have been abused, and educating the public
about the diversity of marine life and the importance of
conservation.
SSE is using a variety of marine tools to carry out the first systematic deepwater exploration and survey of the sanctuaries. The innovative submarine called Deep Worker makes much of the effort possible. Deep Worker is a one-person craft with a clear acrylic dome over the pilot's head and shoulders. The sub is propelled and maneuvered by four powerful thrusters. The pilot sits in a warm, dry cabin with a computer touch-screen control system, including mechanical arms, almost as if he were driving an underwater car. Submersibles are providing unprecedented "bottom time" for divers at depths unattainable by conventional means.
The submersible Deep Worker, along with the support ship McArthur, have already conducted extensive surveys of Cordell Banks, Monterey and Channel Islands. On May 27, at the Channel Islands, the research team joined up with press and Great American Fish Count divers for a unique underwater meeting uplinked live on the web.
During
the first two weeks of July, volunteer divers will identify and
document fish diversity and populations in marine sanctuaries and
coastal areas in the event known as the Great American Fish Count.
This annual event serves to raise awareness among both the diving
community and public-at-large regarding marine habitats and trends in
fish populations as well as provide researchers, marine resource
managers and policy makers with this useful information that would
otherwise be unavailable. To date, two respected studies have been
published based on information derived from the GAFC.
Partners of the GAFC are American Oceans Campaign (AOC), Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), represented locally by the Channel Islands NMS and Monterey Bay NMS. These partners, with the support of many commercial, educational and environmental organizations will continue to build on the legacy and past success of the GAFC.
The GAFC was started in 1992 by Gary Davis at the Channel Islands National Park as a way to encourage sport divers to report fish sightings. Fifty divers participated in the first GAFC at Anacapa Island. Several thousands of divers are expected to participate in this year's event nationwide.
How can you participate? Start first by attending a seminar to learn visual fish identification skills. While you do not have to be an expert, basic skills are necessary to provide usable data. Several free seminars will be held in California in conjunction with the GAFC. To participate, you must register by phone (1-800-8ocean0) or email GAFC@yahoo.com.
After taking a fishwatching course, divers are encouraged to conduct a fish survey on their next dive. Fish survey dives need not be conducted in a Sanctuary and can be done anywhere along the coastline. Survey report forms are free of charge and are available from the GAFC coordinator or from the REEF office (305-451-0312).
