April 22nd 2001

Health check for coral reefs 5 reefs received a health check on April 22nd - Earth Day 2001. This is when the Barbados Marine Trust (BMT) introduced the international programme, Reef Check. This coral assessment programme provides a way for local communities to monitor the health of their own reefs using a method to count easy-to-identify reef health indicators, like live coral, grouper and lobster. This data is passed onto the Reef Check scientists, for inclusion in the global coral reef status report.

It is an important indicator in an era when these "rain forests of the sea", which support an extraordinary diversity of species and take centuries to develop, are under increasing stress from pollution, coastal development, poor fishing practices, storm activity, and global warming.

	Left: The Coconut Court Boat. Above: The Coconut Court Team relaxing before the Reef Check.