MASNA - Conservation

Reef Check is an international non-profit organization whose mission is to protect and rehabilitate reefs worldwide.

Reef Check is devoted to the following goals and objectives:

Educate the public and governments about the value of coral reefs and rocky reef ecosystems and the crisis facing them
Create a global network of volunteer teams, trained and led by scientists, that regularly monitor and report on reef health using a standard method
Facilitate collaborative use of reef health information by community groups, governments, universities and businesses to design and implement ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions
Stimulate local action to protect remaining pristine reefs and rehabilitate damaged reefs worldwide especially through the creation of Marine Protected Areas.

For more information please visit http://www.reefcheck.org

What is Seafood Watch?

A program of Monterey Bay Aquarium designed to raise consumer awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources. We recommend which seafood to buy or avoid, helping consumers to become advocates for environmentally friendly seafood. We're also partners of the Seafood Choices Alliance where, along with other seafood awareness campaigns, we provide seafood purveyors with recommendations on seafood choices.

What can you do?

Seafood Watch knows from experience that consumers matter—just a few simple actions on your part can help. Take the pledge to share your passion for ocean-friendly seafood with the businesses you patronize or your family, friends and co-workers. By signing up for theSeafood Watch Advocate program, you can educate yourself and others about the importance of making sustainable seafood choices.

Fact Sheet

Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood WATCH®

Project SECORE (SExual COral REproduction) is a coral reef conservation initiative of public aquaria aimed at enhancing the cooperation between aquaria and research institutions to develop and apply coral breeding techniques. The annual workshop program provides hands-on training for aquarium professionals. For scientists of various fields, our workshops provide a unique environment to carry out research with high logistical demands.

We currently focus on developing appropriate breeding, aquaculture and cryopreservation techniques for the threatened Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata. The SECORE team will collect gametes of the Elkhorn coral during the mass spawning event of this threatened species; we hope to rear large quantities of larvae for distributing them to the participating institutions to further study the recruitment under aquarium conditions.

For the first time, you can join the workshop online via the SECORE website at http://www.secore.org. The link on the homepage has been activated yesterday and leads to a weblog, which will give you an illustrated update of the activities every day for the duration of the workshop. You are welcome to join the SECORE team online on this adventure!

For more information please visit http://www.secore.org/

The Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) is an international, not-for-profit organization that brings marine aquarium animal collectors, exporters, importers and retailers together with aquarium keepers, public aquariums, conservation organizations and government agencies.

MAC's mission is to conserve coral reefs and other marine ecosystems by creating standards and certification for those engaged in the collection and care of ornamental marine life from reef to aquarium.

Marine Aquarium Council

Reef Protection International (RPI) has conducted research on the marine aquarium trade resulting in the creation of the RPIReef Fish Guide (for the responsible aquarium hobbyist). The goal of the RPI Reef Fish Guide program is to increase public awareness about the ethical implications of keeping coral reef fish as pets and provide those entering the hobby, as well as existing hobbyists, with the knowledge to make informed buying choices that contribute to coral reef conservation.

The RPI Reef Fish Guide was developed with the assistance and expertise of RPI’s Scientific Advisory Panel . A scientific methodology was utilized to rank popular fish species according to several categories, assigning fish into “Take it Home” (recommended) and “Keep it Wild” (avoid) lists. In addition to the support of the RPI Scientific Advisory Panel, advice and peer review has come from members of the public aquarium sector, marine scientists and others with expertise in consumer awareness campaigns.

RPI Reef Fish Guide is designed to impart a sense of responsibility and to empower consumers to make informed buying choices based on reliable information. The RPI Reef Fish Guide can be found at public aquariums, retail pet stores, trade shows, schools, the Internet and through local hobbyist clubs at monthly meetings, etc.