Expanding Conservation Through People and Innovation
In 2025 REEF made remarkable strides in ocean conservation, driven by our supporters, volunteers, and partners. The year’s big milestone was the Grand Opening of the Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo, Florida, a new interactive center for marine conservation and education. This free-admission facility brings together science, art, and history to inspire and engage visitors of all ages. The Center features hands-on exhibits – from microscope labs to a “dry fish survey” scavenger hunt – and interactive programs like the Lionfish dissections designed to teach about reef ecology, and a rotating art exhibit series called The Ocean Inspires. In its first months, the Ocean Exploration Center welcomed over 10,000 guests (free of charge), connecting the public directly with marine conservation. In parallel, our field and education programs continued to flourish. REEF citizen scientists logged thousands of new surveys, removed over a 1,000 invasive lionfish, and REEF engaged hundreds of students in environmental science.
By the Numbers: 2025 Highlights
2025 was an incredible year for REEF! Below are some highlights of REEF’s 2025 accomplishments.
Citizen Science Surveys: Volunteers submitted 11,776 new marine-life surveys in 2025, bringing REEF’s total to 319,867 surveys in our database – the largest marine life sightings database in the world. These surveys were contributed by 18,240 volunteer divers and snorkelers to date. The data are continuing to yield incredible results. REEF data have supported over 137 publications.
Ocean Exploration Center: Since opening in June, the new REEF Ocean Exploration Center has been free and open to all, embodying our “Oceans for All” mission. To date 10,270 visitors have experienced its interactive exhibits and programs, from interacting with fish ecology games to participating in fish-ID challenges.
Ocean Explorers Education Programs: The Ocean Exploration Center has brought ocean science to the community, hosting educational tours, seminars, and art-science events that inspired 5,259 people through REEF’s Ocean Explorers education programs.
Invasive Species Removal: At the April 2025 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival, 13 diving teams collected 1,618 invasive lionfish from local reefs. The family-friendly festival attracted hundreds of attendees with an opportunity to taste lionfish and learn about their management with live dissections. This effort – part of REEF’s Invasive Species Program – directly protects native fishes and habitats while raising public awareness through a fun, family-friendly competition.
Grouper Moon Project: The 2025 Cayman Islands field season held a surprise – for the first time in over two decades, Nassau Grouper did not form their normal spawning aggregation at the Little Cayman site on the expected month. (A shifted lunar cycle likely altered their timing to a previous month.) Researchers turned this mystery into an opportunity: they deployed a cutting-edge eDNA metabarcoding sampling around Little Cayman to detect any Grouper DNA traces in the water. Despite the unexpected spawning, the season yielded valuable data and outreach. REEF educators streamed live chats from underwater, reaching over a dozen Cayman classrooms (200+ students) in real time. These innovations – from DNA sampling to live education – help ensure the Grouper Moon Project continues protecting Nassau Grouper, even when nature surprises us.
SMILE: The "Size Matters: Innovative Length Estimates" project continues to advance laser technology designed for measuring fish length through AI-assisted workflows. In a collaborative effort between the REEF team, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Backscatter Photo & Video, a new dual-laser prototype has been developed. These units are engineered to be compact and intuitive, ensuring they are ready for deployment by citizen scientists. While fish length data is frequently missing from fisheries data, it remains a vital metric for understanding population dynamics, including recruitment trends and reproductive capacity.
Protecting the Ocean, Protecting Our Future - Your Support in Action!
Dive into some of our favorite conservation highlights from 2025, made possible thanks to your support.
Grouper Moon Project: Where are the Grouper? In a first-ever twist at Little Cayman, Nassau Groupers didn’t appear at their traditional spawning site, prompting our researchers to deploy cutting-edge eDNA tools and connect with more than 200 students via live educational dives, underscoring REEF’s innovative science and outreach in action.
SMILE Project Update: Citizen Divers Making Big Waves in Data Quality. REEF’s dedicated volunteer divers continued to elevate science from the seafloor up, with the SMILE Project boosting data precision and passion in every dive while reinforcing the power of citizen science across our global community.
Celebrating Art, Science & Conservation: 1,618 Lionfish Removed. Bringing together artists, scientists, and volunteers, REEF’s lionfish celebration marked a major conservation milestone. 1,618 invasive lionfish were removed, highlighting the power of the Florida Keys community in protecting our reefs.
Advancing Citizen Science: REEF Leadership at Global Conservation Conference. REEF’s Executive Director took the global stage at the Citizen Science & Conservation Conference to share insights, forge partnerships, and advance the role of volunteer-powered science in marine conservation.
REEF Partners to Support Sustainable Hogfish Fisheries. REEF scientists and partners at Scripps Institute of Oceanography advanced sustainable fisheries management by applying citizen science data and collaborative research to better understand hogfish populations and support responsible fishing practices.
REEF’s Adaptive Dive Partnerships Spark Scientific Discovery and Inclusivity. This summer, REEF teamed up with adaptive dive organizations to open up hands‑on marine science experiences, bringing classroom learning underwater and empowering all participants to contribute to fish identification and citizen science data collection with enthusiasm and real scientific impact.
The Ocean Inspires: Art That Connects Us to the Sea. REEF’s Ocean Exploration Center showcases “The Ocean Inspires” exhibit, blending art and science to deepen our connection with marine life and inspire ocean conservation.
Listening to the Lunar Chorus: Grouper Moon Study Reveals Fish Sounds. REEF’s latest study uses underwater microphones to track Nassau Grouper spawning, turning their calls into a powerful tool for science and conservation.
REEF’s Growing Ocean Education Programs. REEF’s Education Advisory Panel of experienced teachers and ocean lovers moblizes to shape and strengthen in‑person and virtual Ocean Explorers curricula to keep programs engaging, accurate, and impactful for learners of all ages.
Financials
REEF has a proven track record of achieving our mission and making a difference for the ocean. Our programs engage and inspire the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community. Your contributions power REEF’s mission to protect biodiversity and inspire future conservation leaders, and we are so thankful for your support.
REEF's 2025 expenses totaled $2.8 million, with 88.5% dedicated directly to conservation, education, and citizen science programs. Our relatively low percentage of expense allocated for fundraising reflects REEF's strong community base and successful grant partnerships. In 2025, administrative expenses focused on supporting the organization’s continued growth as we increased our staff and opened the Ocean Exploration Center, which require investment in systems, personnel, and facilities management to increase the impact of our ocean conservation programs.
REEF's 2025 financial statement includes $3.1 million in capital funding for the Ocean Exploration Center, which opened in June 2025. This major facility investment is reported separately to show the distinction between operating expenses and facility development.
We invest responsibly in organizational capacity because sustainable growth serves conservation. When we strengthen our systems and team, we strengthen our ability to deliver impact for decades to come.
For further information or to talk with someone about giving to REEF, please call 305-852-0030 or email giving@REEF.org.
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REEF’s focus is to develop strong programming to engage and inspire the public through citizen science, education, and partnering with the scientific community to achieve a healthier ocean. This commitment to our mission has been recognized by Great Nonprofits and GuideStar. REEF has an exceptional ‘Give with Confidence’ rating on Charity Navigator, joining the less than 1% of charities with a perfect score for fulfilling our mission in a fiscally-responsible way while adhering to good governance and other best practices. This means your donation goes directly to making a difference for our ocean.
