Taiwan Reef Check Program
Coral reefs, located in shallow waters at the interface between land and sea, are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. However, they are also highly vulnerable to terrestrial pollution, coastal development, and natural disasters. In recent years, as coastal development and resource exploitation have intensified, coral reefs have faced increasingly severe environmental pressures. Since the 1980s, the issues of coral reef pollution and destruction have gradually gained global attention. The 1992 Earth Summit identified coral reefs as one of the ecosystems in urgent need of protection, emphasizing the establishment of marine protected areas as a key strategy for ensuring their sustainable development.
In 1997, UNESCO and other international organizations launched the International Year of the Reef, followed by the International Year of the Ocean in 1998. These global initiatives encouraged governments and NGOs worldwide to participate in marine ecosystem conservation and research, making coral reef protection a focal point in international ecological discourse.
That same year, American coral reef researcher Gregor Hodgson proposed the Reef Check concept, advocating for standardized quantitative survey methods to engage scientists and volunteer divers in synchronized global reef assessments. The collected data would then be compiled and compared to evaluate reef health worldwide (Hodgson, 1999, 2000). This initiative quickly gained international traction and became an integral part of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN).
In Taiwan, the Taiwan Reef Check Program was initiated in 1997 by members of the Taiwan Coral Reef Society. Local researchers and diving communities enthusiastically joined the effort, conducting reef assessments in Taiwan’s coastal waters. Annual surveys have since been carried out to track reef conditions, providing critical data for coral conservation and the establishment of marine protected areas.
In 2008, the Taiwan Reef Check Program was for the first time organized by non-governmental, non-profit organizations, including the Taiwan Environmental Information Association (TEIA), the Marine Environment Education Promotion Association, and the Academia Sinica Biodiversity Research Center’s Coral Reef Ecology and Genetics Laboratory. These organizations also opened participation to recreational divers. By involving citizen divers in reef monitoring, the program aims to expand data coverage beyond what research institutions alone can achieve, while encouraging local divers to collect long-term site data during their regular dives. Through this citizen science approach, the initiative raises public awareness of marine ecosystems and the importance of coral conservation.
Over the years, the Taiwan Reef Check Program has expanded its monitoring network across the island, including locations such as the Northeast Coast, Taitung Shanyuan, Pisirian, Green Island, Orchid Island, Xiaoliuqiu, and Penghu Dongyuping. The accumulated long-term data have documented events such as the damage caused by Typhoon Morakot to Orchid Island’s reefs and the decline of corals during the construction of the Taitung Meiliwan Resort. These findings highlight the value of long-term monitoring in understanding environmental changes.
The Taiwan Reef Check Program is not merely a scientific survey—it is a long-term citizen science initiative that connects researchers, divers, and the public. It helps unveil the hidden beauty of coral ecosystems beneath the waves and emphasizes their vital role in sustaining marine life and human society.
Sources:
Taiwan Environmental Information Association (TEIA)
Taiwanese Coral Reef Society (TCRS)
Annual Taiwan Reef Check Reports: