Over the past 50 years coral reefs have undergone unprecedented changes, especially in the Caribbean. Reefs once dominated by hard corals have increasingly become covered by fleshy macroalgae with a concurrent loss in overall biodiversity and a reduction in the good and services these ecosystems can provide.

There are many causes for these changes, including the decrease in fish populations through overfishing, pollution, disease and storm damage, but it is the rate at which these changes are now occurring that is a cause for real concern.

Data from underwater surveys can measure a range of factors and provide a quantitative measure of reef health.

UCME is also collecting information on the abundance of conch and spiny lobster which are essential for a healthy reef.

To address this problem UCME survey data is being used in the “Healthy reefs for healthy people” programme. This region wide initiative provides a five point scale from critical to excellent with which to gauge what the abundance of key reef indicators (such as herbivore biomass) represent in terms of reef health. In so doing it provides a simple mechanism to help reef managers and policy makers visualise what they currently have and what they should aspire to have in order to improve the condition of the resource. This helps translate an abstract concept of “well-being” into a suite of tangible, clearly defined metrics by which health can be assessed and understood.

UCME currently carries out data collection based on 5 out of 7 of the ecological indicators outlined by “Healthy Reefs for Healthy People” including coral cover, algal cover, herbivorous fish abundance, commercial fish abundance and diadema (urchin) density. UCME is also collecting information on the abundance of conch (Strombus gigas) and spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) which are also essential for a healthy reef.