The Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count
Butterflyfish surveys in Fiji in 2008 and 2009
Resources
Download resources to do the surveys
Results
Results from the counts in 2008 & 2009
Supporters
We humbly appreciate all the support of all businesses and NGOs for this survey
A great fun event 🙂
Welcome to The Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count!
Welcome to The Great Fiji Butterflyfish Count! Even after last years International Year of the Coral Reef , you have the opportunity to help celebrate and record Fiji’s amazing coral reef biodiversity, show you care about our world’s delicate coral reef systems, and have fun, by taking part in a week-long hunt for the Great Fiji Butterflyfish! Easy to do, this is suitable for visitors and dive guides.
Using the data you have helped gather, we will not only be able to map Butterfly Fish distribution and abundance in Fiji, but because butterfly fish act as significant indicators of reef health, we can use the information to infer patterns of reef health.
The Science
So why count Butterflyfish?
Data was collected on special slates by divers like you
Volunteers and scientists entered all the citizen science data into datasheets
Results are published here on this website in other journals
Butterflyfish are easily observed by snorkellers and divers, in all regions of Fiji. Counting Butterflyfish tells us a lot about coral health and water quality. On healthy, live reefs, we would expect many different kinds of Butterflyfish, but if reefs are unhealthy, we may see a drop in numbers and variety.
This is a timed swim count that can be carried out over any reef, using SCUBA or snorkel, at any depth, during recreational activities. There is no maximum area to be covered but as far as possible survey time should be kept at thirty minutes
Industry Partners
Latest News and Blog
Come and help celebrate Fiji's magnificent Sharks, Rays and Turtles, have fun and show you care about our world's delicate coral reefs: join the hunt for the Great Fiji Shark!
From the 10th – 13th November, 2008, Dakuibeqa Primary School and Uluinakorovatu Primary School on Beqa Island, celebrated the International Year of the Reef (IYOR) by participating in a week long program on marine education and conservation.
2009 inaugural Fiji Islands Conservation Science Forum (FICSF) provided an excellent platform for the Butterflyfish Count organizing committee to present its findings to the greater scientific and conservation organizations in Fiji as well as to the general public. The presentation was made by Chinnamma Reddy on behalf of the committee.
An invitation was extended to 11 volunteers from Navatu to spend the day in Nukubalavu, to take part in The Great Fiji Butte rflyfish Count, alongside the staff and volunteers of the Greenforce Team.
The day consisted of several 30 minute snorkels along the Nasonisoni Passage. Each team consisted of two surveyors armed with an identification slate. The day was a good opportunity for the Greenforce volunteers and the Navatu volunteers to work together.