Monitoring and Assessment

Monitoring and assessment are important tools for effective management and provide information to detect changes in condition that might trigger a management response, determine the cause of changes of concern, and evaluate the effectiveness of management actions.

Monitoring involves repeating measurements through time, usually with the aim of detecting change, such as trends in coral cover or fish abundance (e.g., of herbivores). Assessment refers to a one-time measurement of indicators relating to ecological or social conditions or pressures. For example, a one-time survey of coral reefs damaged by a ship grounding would be considered an assessment, whereas surveying the same coral reef sites annually using similar methods is monitoring.

This toolkit provides an overview of how to design different reef monitoring programs and conduct assessments. For more in-depth information, take the Introduction to Coral Reef Management Online Course Lesson 4: Assessing and Monitoring Reefs.

Diver monitoring reefs in the Florida Keys. Photo © Shaun Wolfe/Ocean Image Bank