July 16, 2009, 8:05 pm
On Saturday, July 25, 2009, Biscayne National Park and its concessioner, in cooperation with the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) will host the Great Annual Fish Count, an annual event that seeks to inspire recreational divers and snorkelers to aid scientists in monitoring fish populations around the world. The local event will commence at 8:00 a.m. in the park's auditorium with a free reef fish identification seminar and an introduction to the fun and easy survey methods. The afternoon session, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., will be dedicated to putting new skills to use on a specially-priced dive/snorkel trip to the park's reef sites.
Great Annual Fish Count participants at Biscayne National Park must register by contacting Biscayne National Park's concessioner at 305-230-1100 to reserve a place on the boat. The discounted price for the 2-tank dive trip is just $65.00 per diver (tanks and weights included) and $23.75 for snorkelers (mask, fins, and snorkel rental included). All other gear must be provided by the participant or rented separately. Call the park's concessioner to reserve rental gear as quantities are limited. A REEF survey kit, that participants get to keep, includes a special underwater slate, fish identification guide, and required survey forms; this kit can be purchased at the reduced price of $10.00 (cash only) the day of the event.
Biscayne's auditorium is located in the Dante Fascell Visitor Center at 9700 SW 328th Street in Homestead, Florida. Directions are available by calling the park Visitor Information line at 305-230-PARK (7275), extension 0 or on line at the park's website www.nps.gov\bisc.
