David (Dave) Pflieger has over two decades of experience in the aviation industry and formerly worked for airlines such as Delta Air Lines, Virgin America, Fiji Airways, Silver Airways, and Hawaii Island Air. While in Fiji, David Pflieger led the country’s national airline to strongly support the Mamanuca Environmental Society (MES) which worked with local community stakeholders to protect the environment and promote environmental conservation efforts, such as the Reef Check Surveys program.

1. David Pflieger
Reef Check Survey Promotes
Coral Reefs Conservation
Worldwide

2. Introduction
 David (Dave) Pflieger has over two decades of experience
in the aviation industry and formerly worked for airlines
such as Delta Air Lines, Virgin America, Fiji Airways, Silver
Airways, and Hawaii Island Air. While in Fiji, David Pflieger
led the country’s national airline to strongly support the
Mamanuca Environmental Society (MES) which worked
with local community stakeholders to protect the
environment and promote environmental conservation
efforts, such as the Reef Check Surveys program.
A coral reef conservation and volunteer program supported
by scientists and divers around the globe, Reef Check
focuses on ensuring the survival of the ocean’s coral reefs
and spreading awareness about the current world-wide
reef crisis. One of its primary objectives is the creation of a
network of volunteers who regularly monitor the health of
reefs around the globe using a scientific method developed
specifically for reef evaluations.

3. Island Air
 In addition, the program encourages local
communities to take part in protecting the world’s
remaining pristine reefs and to rehabilitate damaged
reefs. The program is active in more than 90 countries
and territories and performs reef surveys twice a year.
To monitor subtle environmental changes in the
waters surrounding Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands, MES
established the Mamanuca Dive Operators Network.
This group educates local divers on Best Practice
activities and delivers environmental briefings to
guests. It also conducts annual surveys of the health
status of reefs in the area. Volunteers report the
results of reef surveys to the Reef Check
headquarters and international organizations such as
the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.