January

2014
Pez Maya, Mexico

Practice Monitoring MRBS Adult Fish Monitoring Method

Summary

Many different methods are used globally to collect data about the health of a coral reef; here at Pez
Maya, we use the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Systems (MBRS) synoptic monitoring program. It is
important that our volunteers achieve 100 percent in their identification exams, sizing and in-water
spots before they begin to practice monitor. This can take around four to eight weeks, but this phase has
already started practice monitoring adult fish three weeks in, showing great data collecting potential.


Report

MBRS monitoring methodology encompasses selected methods for monitoring physical and biological
parameters, for use in the Mesoamerican Region. It is essential that volunteers perfect this during
practice before they can monitor without staff guidance or oversight. Although coral and fish
methodologies differ, both sets of volunteers need to combine in-depth knowledge of their subject and
excellent diving skills to be able to begin practice monitoring. Below is a description of the adult fish
monitoring process which our volunteers are currently learning and will master before heading out on
their own.

A fish monitoring team consists of one juvenile monitor and one adult monitor. The adult monitor
begins the dive by looking down on the monitoring site whilst descending, scanning the area for a
suitable place to begin the transect. A fish transect is made up of one thirty meter adult transect and
one thirty meter juvenile transect, running along the same line.

When choosing the start point for both coral and fish transects, the monitors need to take in to
consideration surge and current present at the site, which can affect both the timing and bearing and
the direction of the transect. It is important to note that the entire 30 meter transect needs to be at the
same depth with a one meter allowance e.g. if the start depth is 10 meters, at no point during the
transect can the depth run below 11 meters, or above nine. Our coral reef runs progressively deeper
towards the east and it is essential to keep within these depth
parameters and not break dive profile.

The adult monitor will point to the most suitable place on the reef and
the juvenile monitor places the tape measure on this spot, making sure
any marine life is not damaged. The juvenile monitor takes note of the
depth of the tape measure, this will be the start depth of the transect.
Next the adult monitor takes a compass bearing in the direction the
transect will be laid. This and the depth are written on a monitoring slate.
(See figure 1.) It is essential at this point that neither monitor crosses
over the tape measure into the area that will be monitored during the
Figure 1 Monitoring equipment
transect before they are ready to begin. If this does occur the fish will be disturbed giving them bias data
and the results will be void.
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 The pair will then signal ok to each other and begin the transect. The adult monitor will swim 30 meters
following their bearing, using a combination of compass navigation and natural references. During this
30 meters the adult monitor will write down the species and size of any target fish that swims through
an imaginary two meter cubed box. This box is measured directly in front of the monitor i.e. two meters
in front, one each side and one above and below them. A T-bar measuring one meter across the top
and half a meter at the base, is used to assist the adult monitor to size their box correctly (see figure 2.)
For the data to be valid, the transect must take between six and eight minutes; the slow pace ensures
the monitor is marking down all the fish that swim through and nothing is omitted.

The juvenile monitor swims slowly behind the

adult monitor, unraveling the tape measure
and making sure it is tucked under ledges,
around corals and tight to the reef to avoid
any damage. They will pull once on the adult
monitors fin at 10 and 20 meters. This helps
the adult monitor judge his time and distance.
Two fin pulls at twenty-eight meters signals
the end of the transect; the average person,
including fins is approximately two meters
Figure 2 Showing an adult and juvenile buddy pair
long, making up the full thirty meters. It is important
laying out the tape measure and using the T-bar to that the two divers give and receive the ok sign at each
monitor within that 2m box.
fin pull to maintain buddy contact and make sure the
other diver is not experiencing any problems. If at any
point the adult monitor runs out of reef, the transect is void and another place must be chosen.

After the adult transect is complete and the pair have waited a minimum of three minutes for any fish
who may have been disturbed to return, it is the juvenile monitors turn to swim back along the 30 meter
tape. They will mark down all the juveniles that swim through a one meter cubed box and under a
certain size, species dependent. After the juvenile monitor has collected their data, one full fish transect
is complete.

Normally our volunteers reach practice monitoring level within four to eight weeks, but this phase has
achieved this in the first three weeks. The sooner our volunteers begin practice monitoring, the sooner
they begin to monitor and to collect data at our monitoring sites contributing to a better understanding
of the reef ecosystem in the area surrounding Pez Maya, within the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve; thus,
helping us to fulfill our objective of collaborating to the Millennium Development Goals for
environmental sustainability.

To find out more about the Pez Maya expedition visit http://www.gvi.co.uk/programs/marineconservation-expedition-mexico
References:
P.C. Almada-Villela, P.F. Sale, G. Gold-Bouchot and B. Kjerfve. Conservation and sustainable use of the
Mesoamerican barrier reef systems project (MBRS) Manual of methods for the MBRS synoptic monitoring program.
Belize, April 2003

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