Reef Life Survey

REEF LIFE EXPLORER is LIVE! A first-of-it’s kind interactive digital tool – displaying data collected by hundreds of #CitizenScience divers – REEF LIFE EXPLORER tracks the health of vital reef ecosystems all around the world. Dive Deeper: reeflifeexplorer.com

🦈The 2023 Cod Grounds trip was four years in the making, but finally this year the team headed out for some epic surveys, recording 98 grey nurse sharks across 18 transects, as well the highest biomass for a single transect in Australia. Read more 👉 bit.ly/3O1vzHS

🐙 This year’s Sydney surveys have been a true labour of love, with 43 surveys across 21 sites completed over the last six months thus far, and more to come! To read more, follow the link to RLS Trainer and Coordinator John Turnbull's blog post 👇 reeflifesurvey.com/rls-sydney-sur…

🏝In May 2023, RLS Cofounder Rick Stuart-Smith ventured back to the Seychelles for the first time in over a decade to resurvey twelve sites. A lot had changed since his last visit, including some visible changes to the reef. Read more on the RLS blog: bit.ly/43U33P7

🦈RLS and UTas divers have just returned from some epic biodiversity surveys in the Cod Grounds Marine Park. These were challenging dives, but plentiful grey nurse sharks made it well worth it. Thanks to the team at SCUBA Haven for making this trip possible. 📷Rick Stuart-Smith

🌊Today we are celebrating #WorldOceansDay! RLS is committed to continuing our mission to survey reef biodiversity for years to come, adding to longstanding monitoring data as well as establishing new survey sites to expand our reach across ‘Planet Ocean'. 📷Rick Stuart-Smith

🌏 We’re no stranger to plastic pollution, often spotting debris during our surveys. Marine creatures can become entangled, or end up dragging lost fishing gear like this grey nurse shark. This World Environment Day calls for solutions to #BeatPlasticPollution 📷Toni Cooper

🤿In late April, 2023, the West Australian RLS team hopped on the ferry over to Rottnest Island to conduct a grand total of 22 surveys across 12 sites amid sunny and calm conditions. Read volunteer RLS diver Elle Haskin's retelling of the epic trip👌 bit.ly/43Asl4h

🐬🌊In typical May fashion competing against strong westerlies and swell, the Port Stephens crew have recently completed shore surveys at Halifax and Little Beach. The team were delighted to observe a pair of dolphins as well as a turtle off-transect! 📷 Meryl Larkin

🐟Early in April, RLS divers returned to Geographe Bay to complete 12 surveys across 6 sites. The Geographe Marine Park is managed by @Parks_Australia and hosts a number of regularly-surveyed RLS sites. Read RLS diver Anna's recount of the trip's events: bit.ly/3HxPJqr

🦈The New South Wales RLS team have been busy beneath the waves at Jervis Bay! Surveys using the Edgar-Barrett method began in Jervis Bay in 1996, with RLS surveys beginning in 2008 to continue building this long-standing dataset. 📷 Photo by John Turnbull

🛥🌊The RLS field season is underway! The WA team has been busy surveying Geographe Bay. This is one of the most readily accessible shallow reefs within Commonwealth marine parks, making it a great location for RLS surveys to take place year after year. 📷 Chris Cunnold

New study published today reveals marine heatwaves are damaging reefs around Australia and species of the #greatsouthernreef are declining more rapidly than tropical species. Read the conversation article: bit.ly/3lA79uM Read the paper: go.nature.com/3FEX9Hh

🔎In the largest assessment of marine species population trends to date, RLS cofounder Graham Edgar and a team of fellow researchers draw attention to alarming species declines on Australia's Great Southern Reef Read the paper👇 bit.ly/3K0waIY 📷 @AntoniaCooper

Urchins are on the move!🏃‍♀️ With lots of recent attention Centrostephanus rodgersii on Australia's east coast, this paper led by RLS diver Tom Davis provides insight into projected changes in urchin abundance based on ocean warming Read the full article🤿 mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/3…

🌊🔎If you're in Bondi this weekend, immerse yourself in the Reef Life Explorer down at the @OceanloversFest! This interactive platform lets ocean lovers explore reef health worldwide. Can't make it to Bondi? Dive into the Reef Life Explorer from home: reeflifesurvey.com/explorer

🔍Shallow reefs are teeming with life, hiding out in places you may not expect. Learn more about the cryptic fishes of Australian Marine Parks 👉 bit.ly/3JVbu5H This 'Our Marine Parks Grants' project received funding from the Australian Government. 📷Ian Shaw

During the night on their ascent towards surface waters, unique critters which occupy great depths during the day are observed by blackwater divers. Read more 🔦 bit.ly/3j760JR This ‘Our Marine Parks Grants’ project received grant funding from the Australian Government

The Second Valley Boat Shed RLS survey site is a wonderful example of a South Australian subtidal temperate reef, hosting a medley of macro-algae, invertebrates and cryptic fish. Read volunteer diver Dan Easton's profile on this special survey site: bit.ly/3GSujmW

The Coral Sea Marine Park has experienced major heatwaves in recent years. Read about how RLS data has been used to investigate impacts on Coral Sea reefs: atlas.parksaustralia.gov.au/amps/research/… This ‘Our Marine Parks Grants’ project received grant funding from the Australian Government

Wishing you a happy 'Fishmas' from the RLS team!🎅🌴 As always, a huge thank you to the RLS divers, dedicated volunteers, supporters and collaborators for a great year and many more to come 📷 A festive Nemateleotris magnifica photographed by RLS diver Ian Shaw, Bali, Indonesia