CoralWatch is an organisation built on a research project at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. We have developed a cheap, simple, non-invasive method for the monitoring of coral bleaching, and assessment of coral health. Our Coral Health Chart is basically a series of sample colours, with variation in brightness representing different stages of bleaching/recovery, based on controlled experiments.
In the field, users simply compare colours of corals with colours on the chart and record matching codes. The charts can be used by anyone - scientists, school children, tourists and politicians.
It is our aim to both provide a scientific tool and increase awareness about global warming by demonstrating one of its devastating effects. We ask you to please help by using our kit to monitor your local reefs, or any that you visit.
CoralWatch have also joined forces with Project AWARE Foundation, a nonprofit environmental organisation working with divers to conserve underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. Project AWARE have registered over 500 CoralWatch monitoring locations worldwide making it easy for divers and snorkelers to get involved. You can view a list of participating dive centres or find out more by visiting Project AWARE
You can request a free* DIY Coral Health Monitoring Kit by contacting us at info@coralwatch.org. The chart is currently available in English, Chinese, simplified Chinese, Japanese and French with more languages becoming available in 2008!
We now have a link to NOAAs’ Tropical Ocean Coral Bleaching Indices Page! Here, you can immediately see which Coral Reefs are currently under Bleaching Alert, for further details click here.
* First kit provided free of charge.
Move the mouse over a picture to see the difference between healthy (original picture) and bleached coral
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NOTE
Coral type terminology has been refined to better represent the coral types present on reefs, as per feedback received from marine educators. "Staghorn" coral type changes to "branching" and "brain" changes to "boulder". All coral types will now have a two letter code, for example soft will be represented by "so". During the change of period you may need to use staghorn and branching interchangeably, and likewise for brain and boulder – please bear with us during this transition period. If you have any queries or comments please email info@coralwatch.org
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