We are very excited to share that REEF Trustees and renowned ocean storytellers Ned and Anna DeLoach will be introducing the much-awaited 2nd edition of their book, Reef Fish Behavior - Florida Caribbean Bahamas during REEF Fest 2019!

On Friday, Oct. 18, Ned and Anna will present a seminar titled "Reef Fish Behavior, 2nd Edition: Twenty joy-filled years in the making" starting at 4:30 pm at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo. In addition, REEF Fest attendees will have a unique opportunity to purchase a signed copy of the new, updated, and enlarged 2nd edition during two special booking signing events throughout the weekend. These book signing events are the only way to purchase a copy of the book before its release later this year!

The book retails for $49.95 plus tax. A limited number of copies will be available for purchase during two book signing events:

• Friday, Oct. 18: 6:30-9:00 pm at REEF Headquarters (98300 Overseas Hwy. in Key Largo) during REEF Fest Open House
• Saturday, Oct. 19: 1:30-2:30 pm at Murray Nelson Government Center (102500 Overseas Hwy. in Key Largo)

Reef Fish Behavior presents an overview of what is presently known about the nature of reef fishes for recreational divers, underwater naturalists, photographers, and budding marine biologists. It is also meant to serve as a companion reference to Reef Fish Identification – Florida Caribbean Bahamas 4th edition. The 448-page book includes 588 photos and emphasizes reef fish life cycles, reproduction, cleaning symbiosis, colors & camouflage, senses and sound communications, and marine wildlife management, plus 17 fish family overviews. Ned and Anna have traveled to 20 destinations in Florida, the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean to gather information for the new edition of the book. The majority of their underwater time was spent in Bonaire photographing fish behavior daily for months at a time.

Since the publication of the first edition exactly 20 years ago, notable advances in science have lead to greater understanding of reef fish behavior. DNA markers for tracking fish larvae have helped our understanding of larval transport and its crucial role establishing and maintaining reef fish communities. Lab and field studies in the Pacific have revealed a more complex relationship between species in cleaning behavior. Scientific studies and local conservation efforts in the Cayman Islands and Belize have also yielded new information on grouper and snapper spawning aggregations.

Paul Humann and Ned DeLoach, owners of New World Publications and founders of REEF, have photographed, authored and published more than a dozen field guides for marine life identification around the world.

REEF Fest 2019 is sponsored by Capital Bank Foundation. REEF Fest is open to the public and most events are free to attend, but pre-registration is requested. Visit www.REEF.org/REEFfest for more information.