Stellwagen Bank
Sanctuary Introduces
REEF's Fish Identification Program and
Great American Fish Count to Boston Area Divers
3/1/01
contact:
Anne Smrcina, 781-545-8026, ext. 204
BOSTON
- Would you like to help build a record of the type and number of fish
in local waters? Are you curious about changes in fish populations?
Are you interested in using your next ocean dives to help educate others
about the species in local marine waters?
The Stellwagen
Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the Reef Environmental Education
Foundation have just the program for you. A new Fish Identification
Program is being introduced to divers in the Gulf of Maine at the Boston
Sea Rovers Underwater Clinic on March 3 (11-11:45am). The ID program,
as well as a nationwide fish awareness program called the Great American
Fish Count, will be covered in a seminar sponsored by the Stellwagen
Bank Sanctuary.
The fish
identification and data collection program is part of a national effort
sponsored by REEF that has already reached the Caribbean, the Gulf of
Mexico, the West Coast of California and Mexico, the Pacific Northwest
and Hawaii, with support from the National Marine Sanctuary System.
The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is heading up the effort
for New England.
"Fishwatching
in the Gulf of Maine, including Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary"
has been prepared by the Sanctuary to serve as the local component of
Module Eight of the PADI Project AWARE Fish Identification Specialty.
The local curriculum, developed by the Sanctuary in association with
REEF, covers the major species that might be seen by divers either in
the Sanctuary or closer to shore. Graduates of the course then become
part of a massive data gathering force that is providing information
about the types and numbers of fish in coastal waters.
"Diving
at Stellwagen Bank can be quite challenging due to its depth, its distance
from shore, its cold temperatures, and its varying currents," notes
sanctuary education coordinator Anne Smrcina. "While we are interested
in learning more about the resources within the boundaries of the Sanctuary
(which is located between Cape Ann and Cape Cod at the mouth of Massachusetts
Bay), we here at the Sanctuary are also fully committed to raising awareness
about all of the marine species in our local waters. The "Fishwatching"
program is an excellent way for divers to assist in building public
awareness of local biodiversity and to assist scientists in assessing
trends."
Participants
in the fish identification program may also participate in the annual
Great American Fish Count, which will run from July 1-31 this year.
The Great American Fish Count, sponsored by REEF, has been compared
to the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. It offers an invaluable
record of fish populations and, in turn, an indication of the health
of our inshore coastal environment.
Stellwagen
Bank National Marine Sanctuary Volunteer Dive Team leader Bob Michelson,
an underwater photographer and videographer, has been a key player in
the development of the curriculum and support materials. He has been
assisted by team member Doug Costa, a PADI Master Instructor and Manager
at Diver's Market in Plymouth. Rounding out the Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary
volunteer dive team are Stephen Neuger and Rob Murray, both experienced
deep water divers.
Bob Michelson
and Anne Smrcina will be presenters at the Sat. program, entitled Great
American Fish Count in the Gulf of Maine. Bob Michelson will also offer
a Sunday afternoon program (4-4:45) on the NOAA Diving Program and the
Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary Volunteer Team.
The Boston
Sea Rovers is one of the country's oldest and most prestigious dive
clubs; this is their 47th annual underwater clinic and show.
The Gerry
E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is one of 13 sites
in the National Marine Sanctuary System. This historically important
fishing ground and prime whalewatching site was designated a National
Marine Sanctuary in 1992. The 842-square-mile site is located at the
mouth of Massachusetts Bay between Cape Ann and Cape Cod; its headquarters
are located in Scituate, Mass.
