Resources

Some call them webinars. We call 'em Fishinars!

Fishie fun in the comfort of your own home. Great for first-timers or those wanting a review. These short, free webinars will teach you the finer points of identifying fish and invertebrates underwater.

• We use common names, not scientific names, and focus on how to ID each critter.
• Fishinars help divers learn how to become citizen scientists and help monitor marine life on their recreational dives. Data gathered goes into REEF's online database to help students, researchers, scientists, etc.
• Fishinars are open to divers, snorkelers, and devout landlubbers alike. Anyone wanting to know more about our local underwater residents is welcome to join in.
• You don't need a microphone or a webcam to be able to participate

View Calendar

Caribbean Cryptics

Those elusive cryptics! Some of the less obvious suspects that live on the reef.
Instructor: Jonathan Lavan, REEF Expert and fish geek
Wednesday, February 15th at 6pm PST / 9pm EST - Register

• Although the Fishinars are free, you must register for each session you'd like to attend.
• If you are not already a member, you'll need to Join REEF to be able to register (it's free).
• Once you register for the webinar, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to log on.
• Please log on at least 5-10 min prior to your session start time if possible.

Pacific NW Advanced Fish ID - (3 part Fishinar)

Some of the least common suspects that are seen in the Pacific NW.
Instructor: Janna Nichols, REEF Staff, Instructor and fish geek

Tuesday, February 21st at 7pm PST - Part 1 - Register
Wednesday, February 22nd at 7pm PST - Part 2 - Register
Thursday, February 23rd at 7pm PST - Part 3 - Register

• Although the Fishinars are free, you must register for each session you'd like to attend.
• If you are not already a member, you'll need to Join REEF to be able to register (it's free).
• Once you register for the webinar, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to log on.
• Please log on at least 5-10 min prior to your session start time if possible.

Not Exactly Bums: Fish that live under Florida's Blue Heron Bridge

The Blue Heron Bridge in Florida might not seem at first glance like the most exotic dive spot in the world, but the fish that are found here can be quite unusual!
Instructor: Lureen Ferretti, REEF Expert and fish geek
Wednesday, February 29th at 5pm PST / 8pm EST - Register

• Although the Fishinars are free, you must register for each session you'd like to attend.
• If you are not already a member, you'll need to Join REEF to be able to register (it's free).
• Once you register for the webinar, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to log on.
• Please log on at least 5-10 min prior to your session start time if possible.

Perplexing Parrotfish

Those perplexing parrotfish! Wouldn't you like to know how to tell them apart?
Instructor: Tracey Griffin, REEF Expert and fish geek
Wednesday, March 14th at 5pm PDT / 8pm EDT - Register

• Although the Fishinars are free, you must register for each session you'd like to attend.
• If you are not already a member, you'll need to Join REEF to be able to register (it's free).
• Once you register for the webinar, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to log on.
• Please log on at least 5-10 min prior to your session start time if possible.

25 Caribbean Fish You Should Know

Caribbean REEF Fish ID: Learn tips from REEF Expert and fish geek, Jonathan Lavan, on how to ID Caribbean fish.
Essential for dive travelers heading to Cozumel, Bonaire, and any other Caribbean destination.
Instructor: Jonathan Lavan, REEF Expert and fish geek
Wednesday, March 28th at 5pm PDT / 8pm EDT - Register

• Although the Fishinars are free, you must register for each session you'd like to attend.
• If you are not already a member, you'll need to Join REEF to be able to register (it's free).
• Once you register for the webinar, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to log on.
• Please log on at least 5-10 min prior to your session start time if possible.

Level 2 and 3 Testing

Take your level 2 or 3 test online by appointment. Email janna@reef.org to set up a session.

• Scoring 80% or higher on this test, combined with submitting two surveys in the testing region, will qualify you for REEF Experience level 2.
• If you don't pass, you can always retest another time.
• Level 2 is a 20-25 question quiz. Level 3 is 90 - 100 question test.
• You must have 25 surveys in the database before taking the level 3 test.
• You will need to know how to identify the most commonly sighted fish in your area, and list their common name and family name.
• This information is available on the REEF website under Database > Generate Reports > Geographic Area Reports > Select your region or here

Fishinar Archives

Missed a session? Archived copies will be posted for one week only after the Fishinar ends. If you are interested in viewing a fishinar that is no longer posted, please contact janna@reef.org with your name and REEF member number. (Don't have a REEF membership yet?) 

• Intro to REEF - Quickstart Guide to doing surveys - 25 minutes long,  25MB file
• Northern Gulf of Mexico's Dapper Dozen - 54 minutes long, 81MB file
• NE Fish ID: The Northeast's Dirty Dozen
• PNW Fish ID: Rockfish Rock! 66 minutes long, 72MB
• PNW Fish ID: Scalawag Sculpins
• PNW Fish ID: Gunnels, Greenlings, Gobies and more
• PNW Fish ID: Weirdos: Ratfish, Flatfish and more
• Cozumel's Dirty Dozen (sorry, not recorded)
• Cozumel: The Next 13 Fish
• CAL Fish ID: Rockin' Rockfish
• CAL Fish ID: Scalawag Sculpins
• CAL Fish ID: Wrasse 'n' Bass: Nobody rides for free
• CAL Fish ID: Pesky Perch
• CAL Fish ID: Odds 'n' Ends
• TWA Lookalikes? Look Again!

Use Windows Media Player to view on both PC and Mac. All files are .wmv files.

1. Aguilar-Perera, A. and A. Tuz-Sulub. 2010. Non-native, invasive Red lionfish (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus, 1758]: Scorpaenidae), is first recorded in the southern Gulf of Mexico, off the northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Aquatic Invasions 5.2 REABIC
2. Albins, M.A. and M.A. Hixon. 2008. Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans reduce recruitment of Atlantic coral-reef fishes. Marine Ecology Progress Series 367: 233-238. Inter-Research
3. Barbour, A.B., M.L. Montgomery, A.A. Adamson, E. Diaz-Ferguson, and B.R. Silliman. 2010. Mangrove use by the invasive lionfish Pterois volitans. Marine Ecology Progress Series 401: 291-294. Inter-Research
4. Bernadsky, G. and D. Goulet. 1991. A natural predator of the lionfish, Pterois miles. Copeia 1991.1: 230-231. JSTOR
5. Calado, R. and P.M. Chapman. Editorial. 2006. Aquarium species: Deadly invaders. Marine Pollution Bulletin 52.6: 599-601. ScienceDirect
6. Cote, I.M. and A. Maljkovic. 2010. Predation rates of Indo-Pacific lionfish on Bahamian coral reefs. Marine Ecology Progress Series 404: 219-225. Inter-Research
7. Eme, J. and W.A. Bennett. 2008. Low temperature as a limiting factor for introduction and distribution of Indo-Pacific damselfishes in the eastern United States. Journal of Thermal Biology 33: 62-66. ScienceDirect
8. Freshwater, D.W., A. Hines, S. Parham, A. Wilbur, M. Sabaoun, J. Woodhead, L. Akins, B. Purdy, P.E. Whitfield, and C.B. Paris. 2009. Mitochondrial control region sequence analyses indicate dispersal from the US East Coast as the source of the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans in the Bahamas. Marine Biology 156: 1213-1221. SpringerLink
9. Green, S.J. and I.M. Cote. 2009. Record densities of Indo-Pacific lionfish on Bahamian coral reefs. Coral Reefs 28: 107. SpringerLink
10. Guerrero, K.A. and A.L. Franco. 2008. First record of the Indo-Pacific red lionfish Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) for the Domican Republic. Aquatic Invasions 3.2: 267-268. REABIC 
11. Haddad, V., Jr., I.A. Martins, ad H.M. Makyama. 2003. Injuries caused by scorpionfishes (Scorpaena plumieri Bloch, 1789 and Scorpaena brasiliensis Cuvier, 1829) in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (Brazilian  coast): epidemiologic, clinic and therapeutic aspects of 23 stings in humans. Toxicon 42: 79-83. ScienceDirect
12. Hare, J.A. and P.E. Whitfield. 2003. An integrated assessment of the introduction of lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles complex) to the western Atlantic Ocean. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 2: 1-21. NOAA
13. Kimball, M.E., J.M. Miller, P.E. Whitfield, and J.A. Hare. 2004. Thermal tolerance and potential distribution of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles complex) on the east coast of the United States. Marine Ecology Progress Series 283: 269-278. Inter-Research
14. Maljkovic, A., T.E. Van Leeuwen, and S.N. Cove. 2008. Predation on the invasive red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Pisces: Scorpaenidae), by native groupers in the Bahamas. Coral Reefs 27: 501. SpringerLink
15. Morris, J.A., Jr., J.L. Akins, A. Barse, D. Cerino, D.W. Freshwater, S.J. Green, R.C. Munoz, C. Paris, and P.E. Whitfield. 2008. Biology and ecology of the invasive lionfishes, Pterois miles and Pterois volitans. Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 61: 1-6. GCFI
16. Morris, J.A., Jr. and P.E. Whitfield. 2009. Biology, ecology, control and management of the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish: An updated integrated assessment. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 99: 1-57. NOAA
17. Morris, J.A., Jr. and J.L. Akins. 2009. Feeding ecology of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Bahamian archipelago. Environmental Biology and Fisheries 86: 389-398. SpringerLink
18. Mumby, P.J. and R.S. Steneck. 2008. Coral reef management and conservation in light of rapidly evolving ecological paradigms. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 23.10: 555-563. ScienceDirect
19. Occhipinti-Ambrogi, A. 2007. Global change and marine communities: Alien species and climate change. Marine Pollution Bulletin 55: 342-352. ScienceDirect 
20. Ruiz-Carus, R., R.E. Matheson Jr., D.E. Roberts Jr., and P.E. Whitfield. 2006. The western Pacific red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Scorpaenidae), in Florida: Evidence for reproduction and parasitism in the first exotic marine fish established in state waters. Biological Conservation 128: 384-390. ScienceDirect
21. Schofield, P.J. 2009. Geographic extent and chronology of the invasion of non-native lionfish (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus 1758] and P. miles [Bennett 1828]) in the Western North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. Aquatic Invasions 4.3: 1-23. REABIC
22. Sheehy, D.J. and S.F. Vik. 2010. The role of constructed reefs in non-indigenous species introductioins and range expansions. Ecological Engineering 36: 1-11. ScienceDirect
23. Shertzer, K.W., E.H. Williams, and J.C. Taylor. 2009. Spatial structure and temporal patterns in a large marine ecosystem: Exploited reef fishes of the southeast United States. Fisheries Research 100: 126-133. ScienceDirect
24. Whitfield, P.E., T. Gardner, S.P. Vives, M.R. Gilligan, W.R. Courtenay Jr., G.C. Ray, and J.A. Hare. 2002. Biological invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans along the Atlantic coast of North America. Marine Ecology Progress Series 235: 289-297. Inter-Research
25. Whitfield, P.E., J.A. Hare, A.W. David, S.L. Harter, R.C. Munoz, and C.M. Addison. 2007. Abundance estimates of the Indo-Pacific lionish Pterois volitans/miles complex in the Western North Atlantic. Biological Invasions 9: 53-64. SpringerLink

Regional REEF Lionfish Workshops Help Control the Invasion

Lad Akins, Director of Special Projects, and the REEF team conduct workshops throughout the Caribbean and Mexico to prepare and educate resource managers on the lionfish invasion. These workshops include developing detailed action plans for lionfish removal, how to encourage lionfish as a commercial fisheries and getting the community involved.

Participate in a REEF & FKNMS Lionfish Workshop to learn about lionfish collection, handling, and permits*

This workshop is intended for dive professionals and avid recreational divers interested in obtaining a permit to collect lionfish in the Sanctuary Preservation Areas. These workshops are sponsored by REEF and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The workshop presentation will cover the history and progression of the invasion, an overview of lionfish biology and ecology, safe handling and collection techniques, and first aid. 

*Workshops for lionfish permits only available in the Florida Keys and at certain locations. Permits only allow hand net collection, not spearfishing, in the SPAs.

Upcoming Workshops:

The next workshop will be held at REEF Headquaters in Key Largo on Friday February 3rd at 6:00pm.   Pre-register through this online webform and you will receive email reminders with details about the workshop.

There will be several workshops in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Palm Beach Areas in 2012.  If you are interested in attending one of these, please pre-register here.  You will be sent a notification when the dates/ venues have been determined for these SE FL workshops.

The workshops are free and open to the public. 

Lad Akins teaching a lionfish workshop in the REEF headquarters office (left) and demonstrating proper capture techniques (right).

Click on the .pdf link to download Lionfish Quickfacts:

• Read more