Florida Keys BleachWatch. Community based reporting of coral bleaching and data integration with existing NOAA remote sensing and coral bleaching early warning products : interim report (May 1 - October 15, 2010).

Abstract

The Florida Keys BleachWatch program utilizes community volunteers who regularly report on the occurrence, or absence, of coral bleaching, as well as basic environmental conditions from the reef. Five BleachWatch training presentations were organized to promote the BleachWatch project and train new volunteers throughout the Florida Keys. A total of 222 BleachWatch observations were submitted from May 1 through October 15, 2010 from 23 trained observers. Observations of “partially bleached” or “paling” corals were observed throughout all of the Florida Keys and across all habitat types, including inshore, mid-channel, offshore, and intermediate and deep reefs. Overall, these reports indicated that the potential mass coral bleaching was very limited this season.