Published Sep 7, 2016 at 12:01 am (Updated Sep 7, 2016 at 7:16 am)

The Bermuda Zoological Society is looking for teams of researchers to help survey coral reefs around the island.

Reef Watch will take place on Saturday, September 24, and/or Sunday, September 25, and organisers are calling on participants to join the sea-bound adventure for one or both days.

Each team of four will be assigned two reefs and will be provided with training to conduct a survey on their health.

Teams must provide their own water transport out to the reefs and are also asked to raise funds of at least $500, which will go towards reef conservation.

A post-event barbecue will be held at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, during which time prizes will be awarded to those who collected the most sponsorship money.

Over the past three years, Reef Watch has raised more than $60,000 to research and conserve the island’s reefs via the Bermuda Reef Ecosystem Analysis and Monitoring programme.

Thaddeus Murdoch from Bream said: “Bermuda relies on an ecologically healthy and resilient reef for its economic, social and ecological wellbeing.

“It is of extreme importance that we make Bermudians aware of both the vitality of Bermuda’s reef system, and its extreme fragility.”

•For more information or to enter a team, visit www.crowdrise.com/reefwatch or e-mail development.bzs@gov.bm. Training nights are scheduled for Monday, September 19, and Tuesday, September 20.