Artificial Reef Monitoring Program Fosters Unforgettable Experience for Citizen Scientist – Technologist

April marks Participatory Science Month, also known as Citizen Science Month. Florida Sea Grant proudly celebrates the contributions of individual volunteers in coastal and marine research. Whether seasoned participants or newcomers, their efforts in monitoring coastal habitats or tracking wildlife have a profound impact on research and conservation efforts statewide.

During the bustling weekdays, Gainesville local Ruth McIlhenny serves as the strategic academic programs manager at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. However, when the weekend arrives, she swaps her office attire for a wetsuit and dives into the artificial reefs along the Gulf Coast. Ruth has actively participated in Taylor County’s Artificial Reef Monitoring Program for six years.

“My love is water. I enjoy swimming, diving, and snorkeling in the ocean and the springs. I’ve been diving since 1994, and I am a rescue diver,” says Ruth. “In 2018, I saw a social media post about an artificial reef research group in Taylor County that needed volunteer divers. Since I had never dived in the Gulf before, I saw this as a great opportunity to experience it!”

Florida Sea Grant supports the management, deployment, and monitoring of over 4,000 artificial reef deployments, which are used by 48% of Florida’s saltwater anglers targeting reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico. Since 2018,  UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant extension agent, Victor Blanco, has overseen the diving component of the Artificial Reef Monitoring Program in Taylor County. The program studies fish biodiversity around artificial reefs constructed from various structures and materials such as scrap metal, concrete, 

Ruth serves as a buddy safety diver for the Artificial Reef Monitoring Program, accompanying Blanco during dives and capturing pictures and videos of fish and reefs. Ruth dives two to three times each season, refining her fish identification skills.

“It’s an incredible experience witnessing how the reefs change from year to year,” says Ruth. “I was thrilled to spot a six-foot goliath grouper at one of the reefs off Buckeye Reef, and a few weeks ago, during the first dive with artificial reefs at the Horseshoe Beach reef in Dixie County, I spotted my first batfish!”

Monitoring dives primarily take place in the reefs of Taylor County. However, following an agreement between Taylor and Dixie counties last year to enhance their monitoring, the program is now conducting dives in both counties this year.