We must acquire a distinct record our local fish populations now, so we can assess what is happening to them and respond before it is too late. Cousteau, the son of legendary scuba diving pioneer and marine explorer Jacques Cousteau, will offer an enlightened overview of the world s oceans and how our waters are affected. In addition to Cousteau, marine experts from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary will speak, as well as diving instructors from the Great American Fish Count. Broadcast quality underwater footage and still photos of kelp forests, schools of fish and divers gliding above reefs through cathedral beams of light while counting fish will be provided at the press conference. The conference is primarily a call for volunteer divers to participate in one of two training seminars in the Monterey and San Francisco areas, prior to the event which runs from July 1 - 14.
Divers receive training in identifying fish species and observation techniques.
We do not know as much about the health and population trends of the fish species in the kelp forests of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary as we would like to, said Sanctuary Manager Terry Jackson. That is why volunteer fish surveying activities like the Great American Fish Count and other monitoring efforts are so important to us. The Great American Fish Count was stated in 1992 in Southern California by Channel Islands National Park biologists, who were accompanied by 50 volunteers, as a way to encourage divers to report fish sightings. The event has grown exponentially each year and spread across the country. This year s event is a cooperative effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA s National Marine Sanctuary Program, and three non-profit organizations including REEF, The Reef Environmental Education Foundation, the Marine Conservation Network, and the American Oceans Campaign.