Welcome to Reef Life Survey

Reef Life Survey (RLS) aims to improve biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management of marine resources through the production of high-quality survey information at spatial and temporal scales beyond those possible by scientific dive teams (which have to work with increasingly limited resources). It does this through the skills of experienced and motivated recreational SCUBA divers, as well as through partnerships with management agencies and a steering committee comprising managers, scientists and recreational divers (see RLS Steering Committee). RLS thus represents a dynamic cooperation between scientists, marine managers and recreational SCUBA divers, such that the skills and resources available for collecting, analysing, interpreting and effectively using broad-scale, sub-tidal biodiversity information are maximised.

Rottnest Island survey weekend 20th-23rd May

The fourth annual RLS Rottnest Island survey weekend proved yet another success, with the majority of sites surveyed by an excellent group of RLS divers, all with much appreciated help from the Rottnest Island Authority.

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Port Phillip Bay survey weekend 6th- 11th May.

A small group of Victorian and NSW divers headed down to Queenscliff for the Port Phillip Bay annual survey weekend.

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RLS Tropical Survey Expedition – Photos from the east

Here are a few pictures taken by RLS divers during the east coast leg of the Tropical survey expedition.

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RLS Tropical Survey Expedition – Photos from the west

Some pictures from the Western Australia leg of the RLS Lap of Australia survey trip. Read the story »

Baseline Biodiversity Survey of the Cod Grounds Commonwealth Marine Reserve

In May 2009, a team of RLS divers undertook special baseline reef surveys of the Cod Grounds Commonwealth Marine Reserve, off Laurieton on the NSW central coast. The Commonwealth Government commissioned a report of these surveys, which is available at the following link:
www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mpa/publications/cod-grounds-biodiversity.html

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Exploited reefs protected from fishing transform over decades into conservation features otherwise absent from seascapes

The second paper incorporating RLS data in a continental analysis of Marine Protected Areas recently featured in Ecological Applications.

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