New CCD Project Begins

RARE SPECIES at CATALINA ISLAND WILL NOW BE DOCUMENTED BY THE DIVE COMMUNITY!!

 I am pleased to announce a new project operating under the umbrella of Catalina Conservancy Divers (CCD) in which all of you can participate! The new Catalina Species Archive (CSA) will document sightings of rare and uncommon marine species found in the nearshore waters surrounding Santa Catalina Island.

Many of you are experienced divers who can recognize easily what is common or uncommon at Catalina. If you see (or have seen) an uncommon marine plant or animal at Catalina Island, please help us document it with some simple data.

Here are the data that CCD's CSA would like you to document if you see (or have seen) an uncommon species:

Common and scientific names of organism
Location
Date and time
Depth
Temperature
Size of organism
Photos if you have them (1MB or less for now, please)
 Your dive experience (years, number of dives at time of sighting, etc.)

Your marine species ID background (novice, experienced amateur,
professional)
Contact info of anyone who assisted you with the ID of your organism

Catalina Species Archive appreciates your efforts to document rare species. The data will eventually be made available to the public and our hope is that it will be useful (and fun!) not only for the diving community but also for the marine resource community.

**CSA may withhold from public viewing location data for at-risk species**

If you send photos, please send files that are less than 1 MB. CSA may ask for higher resolution files later.

Thank you!
-- 
Debbie Karimoto
CCD Catalina Species Archive (CSA)
"Documenting uncommon marine species of Catalina Island"