SEAFAN BleachWatch Observer Training with Rescue a Reef

Overview

On May 29, 2025, The International SeaKeepers Society partnered with The University of Miami’s Rescue a Reef to host a BleachWatch Observer Training at The Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. BleachWatch is a citizen science program that is part of the Southeast Florida Action Network (SEAFAN) created by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. It serves as an early warning network for coral bleaching and disease in South Florida, relying on tracking weather conditions and trained observer reports to improve scientific understanding of coral bleaching and disease events. SeaKeepers Educational Outreach Director Toni Lohroff and Community Engagement Associate Lillian Engelhard became certified BleachWatch Instructors in October of 2024, allowing them to train more individuals and expand the network of BleachWatch Observers in Miami-Dade County. By partnering with Rescue a Reef, Lillian and Toni were able to certify 18 new observers, consisting of 15 graduate students at The Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science and three SeaKeepers staff members. The participants learned about the mechanisms and history of coral bleaching and disease in South Florida, how to identify and classify different types of stony coral, how to identify stages and signs of coral bleaching and disease, and how to fill out a SEAFAN BleachWatch report. The participants concluded the training by testing their knowledge in a brief quiz and left the training with certificates of their completion. SeaKeepers is grateful to Rescue a Reef and The Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science for their partnership, and is proud to help expand the network of BleachWatch Observers keeping an eye on South Florida coral reefs!