What a year 2025 was for REEF. From the long-anticipated Grand Opening of the Ocean Exploration Center to record-breaking citizen science contributions, REEF members, donors, partners, and volunteers helped us reach more people, remove more invasive species, and advance more marine science than ever before. We're thrilled to share that our 2025 Impact Report is now live at www.reef.org/2025-impact-report — we hope you'll take a few minutes to dive in.
By the Numbers
A few of the year's highlights:
11,776 new marine-life surveys submitted by REEF volunteers, bringing our database to 319,867 surveys — the largest marine life sightings database in the world — contributed by 18,240 volunteer divers and snorkelers.
10,270 visitors welcomed free of charge to the new REEF Ocean Exploration Center since its June 2025 opening.
5,259 people engaged through our Ocean Explorers education programs.
1,618 invasive lionfish removed by 13 diving teams at the April 2025 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival.
137+ peer-reviewed scientific publications now built on REEF citizen-science data.
Behind those numbers are stories worth telling: a Nassau Grouper spawning aggregation that didn't show up on schedule at Little Cayman (and the cutting-edge eDNA metabarcoding our researchers deployed in response), a new dual-laser SMILE prototype bringing precision fish-length measurement into the hands of citizen scientists, live underwater classroom broadcasts that reached more than 200 Cayman students in real time, and a growing community of educators, students, divers, and snorkelers connecting with the ocean in new ways.
Financial Diligence
If you've been watching for our annual impact summary, thank you for your patience. REEF holds itself to a high standard of financial accuracy and transparency, and we wait until our books are fully reconciled and audit-ready before we publish — so that every figure you see reflects a complete and accurate picture of the year.
REEF's 2025 operating expenses totaled $2.8 million, with 88.5% directed straight to conservation, education, and citizen science programs. Our 2025 financials also include $3.1 million in capital funding for the Ocean Exploration Center, reported separately to clearly distinguish operating activity from this one-time facility investment.
You can review our complete financials, audited 990s, and third-party accreditations any time on our Financials and Transparency page: www.reef.org/financials-and-transparency.
None of what's in the 2025 Impact Report would have been possible without you. To everyone who logged a survey, volunteered at the Derby, visited the Ocean Exploration Center, gave a donation, joined a trip, taught a student, or simply helped spread the word — thank you. You made 2025 a landmark year, and we're already hard at work on 2026.
Read the full 2025 Impact Report: www.reef.org/2025-impact-report