The Sydney Aquarium Conservation Fund, Sydney Institute of Marine Science and environmental company Aquenal Pty Ltd have joined with Reef Life Survey and other community groups to discover and catalogue exactly which marine species live in Sydney Harbour and nearby estuaries. The challenge is a big one. Dr Jim Lowry from the Australian Museum estimates that, apart from fishes, half of the marine animals in Sydney Harbour are yet to be discovered by science.

The team at Reef Life Survey need experienced SCUBA divers willing to commit their time to helping our marine community in Sydney Harbour. People from Reef Life Survey include scientists, marine managers, as well as recreational SCUBA divers, all devoted to marine conservation. Reef Life Survey is a global initiative where data collected from underwater surveys assists managers to conserve the world’s marine biodiversity.

With so many impacts and stressors facing Sydney Harbour, it is essential to build a detailed database with enough information on various habitats and species. Underwater ecological changes occur out of sight, consequently such information is crucial if we are to conserve plants and animals from human impacts in our own backyard.

If you’re an experienced SCUBA diver you can be a part of the Reef Life Survey Team. You will be trained to conduct official surveys, where your data will be added to the growing database, which already provides an invaluable resource for management and education. This database is freely available to the public in order to encourage a broader knowledge of what habitats and species are present in our Harbour, and so that changes can be tracked through time.

To find out when the next survey is check out the Reef Life Survey website at: http://www.reeflifesurvey.com/