CELP Camp Website

Catalina Island Leadership Program

Monterey Bay Fish

Kelp Forest Information Links

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuaries

Introduction:
Beautiful scenery, fun times with friends, and the ocean are the most memorable parts of the eighth grade trip to Catalina Island for us. We went a camp called CELP, or Catalina Environmental Leadership Program. This camp was located at Howland’s Landing. While we were there, our main objective, besides having fun, was to gather information for our science project once we returned to school.

Research: For our project, we were investigating the different kinds of fish species that live in Emerald Bay versus Howland’s Landing. We collected data while we snorkeling. We used a GPS to map the points to import them onto the program My world. My world is what we used to make our project. Rachel mapped the points and Rachael wrote down which point was which. Rachael also took a roving diver fish count for our CELP group, the Opaleyes. We used waterproof paper, pens, clipboards, and GPS units to gather our data.

Conclusion: Before we went to Catalina, we were both expecting to see the same fish in the different places we went to. Although this was true, we saw more variety and fish that we had not seen before in Emerald Bay. For example, there were male and female sheepheads, cabezons, and blacksmiths in Emerald Bay and not Howland’s Landing. In both there were senoritas, garibaldi, and kelp bass. We think this might be because the water is clearer; there is plant life, and more fish life in Emerald Bay. Having more plant and fish life would provide more food for everything that lives there. We didn’t think this project was difficult, but it definately required a lot of hard work. It was hard to map and write down which point was which. Although that is true, we think it was worth it. We both feel proud of our accomplishment in creating this project. The advice that we would offer for future students is to be prepared and be focused. We believe that the number of species and fish would change in either an El Nino year or if the conditions were different. This would be because the fish have adapted to live in a certain environment and if that environment changed, then the fish may die or move locations. We would both love to go to Catalina again to find out if the fish distribution changed. This trip was wonderful learning experience for both of us, and it is an experience that we are sure we will remember for the rest of our lives.